Artwork
Descent from the Cross
Descent from the Cross is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Charles Le Brun. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on Jesus, whose pale, limp form is supported by companions including the Virgin Mary, who appears in grief-stricken mourning.
The painting depicts the Christian episode of the Descent from the Cross, showing Christ’s body being lowered from the cross after the Crucifixion. The composition centers on Jesus, whose pale, limp form is supported by companions including the Virgin Mary, who appears in grief-stricken mourning. Other figures assist in lowering the body, while a horse and a rider are present at the margins, grounding the scene in its historical setting.
The work conveys the emotional and theological weight of Christ’s sacrifice, emphasizing sorrow and reverence. By rendering the Virgin’s anguish and the careful handling of Christ’s lifeless form, the painting underscores themes of loss and redemption central to Christian iconography.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1640, Le Brun’s Descent from the Cross employs a restrained, monumental composition to convey the gravity of the scene. The handling balances linear clarity with volumetric modeling, using layered glazes to define the sagging weight of Christ’s body and the drapery of surrounding figures. Figures are arranged in a shallow, stage-like space, creating a measured rhythm of gestures and gazes that direct attention to the central lowering of the body.
Subtle chiaroscuro heightens the emotional charge without dramatic excess, reinforcing the restrained classicism characteristic of Le Brun’s early maturity.
The painting’s condition is reported as stable, with no significant structural or paint losses documented in the museum’s records.
History & Provenance
Charles Le Brun created the oil-on-canvas painting Descent from the Cross in 1640. The work depicts the religious subject of the Descent from the Cross, featuring Jesus Christ, Mary, a horse, and a rider. It is currently held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles.
Overview
Descent from the Cross is a 1640 oil painting by Charles Le Brun, a prominent figure in 17th-century French art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Le Brun (French pronunciation:; baptised 24 February 1619 – 12 February 1690) was a French painter, physiognomist, art theorist, and a director of several art schools of his time.
