Artwork
Christ on the cross with the Virgin, St John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalen, and Sts Cecilia and Barbara (left), and Sts Peter, Francis and Jerome (right)
Christ on the cross with the Virgin, St John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalen, and Sts Cecilia and Barbara (left), and Sts Peter, Francis and Jerome (right) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Cornelis Engebrechtsz.. It dates from 1507 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a specific assembly of saints flanking the cross, illustrating a sacred gathering rather than a historical moment alone.
Created in 1507 by Cornelis Engebrechtsz, this religious panel painting centers on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as its primary subject. The composition features a specific assembly of saints flanking the cross, illustrating a sacred gathering rather than a historical moment alone. To the left of the crucified figure stand the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene, and Saints Cecilia and Barbara.
The right side is occupied by Saints Peter, Francis of Assisi, and Jerome. By grouping these diverse holy figures around the central act of sacrifice, the work functions as a devotional image intended to evoke contemplation on the significance of the Passion through the intercession and presence of key saints from Christian tradition.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel in 1507, as indicated by its classification as a painting with oil paint as medium and panel as support (1,2). It was produced in Leiden, reflecting the workshop practices of early Netherlandish artists who typically applied pigment directly onto prepared panel surfaces (2). The composition places the crucified Christ centrally, with the Virgin, Saint John, Mary Magdalene, Saints Cecilia and Barbara on the left, and Saints Peter, Francis and Jerome on the right, creating a balanced, narrative arrangement characteristic of devotional imagery of the period (1).
Stylistically, the figures exhibit the detailed facial expression and rich coloration typical of early 16th‑century Dutch religious art.
History & Provenance
The painting has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam. According to the Wikidata record for the work, its location is given as the Rijksmuseum, and the collection is identified as the Rijksmuseum itself. The medium is recorded as oil paint on panel, and the work was made in Leiden in 1507.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented. The dimensions recorded are 21 cm in height and 28.7 cm in width.
Overview
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., a prominent early Dutch painter from Leiden, completed this oil painting in 1507. Titled Christ on the Cross with the Virgin, St John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalen, and Sts Cecilia and Barbara (left), and Sts Peter, Francis and Jerome (right), the work presents a detailed religious narrative. It centers on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, surrounded by numerous biblical and saintly figures, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance period. The artwork is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection.
Context
Cornelis Engebrechtsz. is recognized as a foundational figure in the development of painting in Leiden. His workshop served as a significant training ground, fostering the talents of several artists, including his own sons. Notably, he also instructed Lucas van Leyden, who would later achieve greater widespread recognition.
Engebrechtsz.'s role as a teacher and his establishment of a distinct artistic presence in Leiden were crucial for the region's artistic trajectory during the early 16th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., also known as Cornelis Engelbrechtsz. (c.1462–1527) was an early Dutch painter. He was born and died in Leiden, and is considered the first important painter from that city. Engebrechtsz. taught…
