Descent from the Cross
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a dramatic scene of a group of people lifting a body from a cross. The figures are tangled in flowing robes, some kneeling, others reaching up with straining arms. A ladder leans against the cross, and one man clings to the top, helping lower the body. The background is dark, with a few faint clouds above. Notice how the artist used shading to show the weight and effort in the figures’ muscles and cloth. The brown tones make the scene feel urgent and shadowy. Next, look up *etching* to see how artists like Charpentier used this technique.
