Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of religious art, the piece functions as a visual representation of the biblical event, focusing on the moment of Christ's death on the cross.
Created in 1513 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, this oil painting on a lime panel depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as its central religious subject. The composition incorporates specific iconographic elements beyond the central figure, including a horse, a dog, a skull, and a ladder. These details serve to flesh out the narrative scene of the execution.
As a work of religious art, the piece functions as a visual representation of the biblical event, focusing on the moment of Christ's death on the cross.
History & Provenance
Lucas Cranach the Elder executed The Crucifixion in 1513. Created as a religious work, the piece was painted using oil paints applied to a lime panel. The painting currently resides in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is held as part of their permanent holdings.
The specific original commissioner and the detailed ownership chain prior to its arrival at the Danish museum are not detailed in the available records.
Overview
Lucas Cranach the Elder completed The Crucifixion in 1513, an oil painting that vividly portrays the central event of Christian theology. This work is a significant example of the artist's engagement with religious themes, presenting the moment of Christ's death on the cross. It is currently housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Technique & Style
Cranach employs a dramatic interplay of light and shadow to emphasize the figures against a somber, dark sky. This contrast draws attention to the central drama and the individual reactions within the crowd. The artist's attention to the emotional responses of the witnesses, ranging from devotion to detachment, contributes to the painting's powerful narrative and psychological depth, characteristic of Northern Renaissance art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
