Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an unspecified painting by the Sienese School artist Matteo di Giovanni. It dates from 1474 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the cross, flanked by the Virgin Mary, Saint John, and other figures, embodying traditional iconography of sacrifice and redemption.
The Crucifixion by Matteo di Giovanni, painted in 1474 in Siena, portrays the moment of Christ’s execution as described in the Gospels. The composition centers on the cross, flanked by the Virgin Mary, Saint John, and other figures, embodying traditional iconography of sacrifice and redemption. Symbolic elements such as the skull at the foot of the cross and the blood‑stained hands emphasize themes of sin and salvation.
As a religious work now housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, the painting reflects late‑15th‑century devotional practices and the artistic emphasis on narrative clarity and emotional intensity.
History & Provenance
The Crucifixion was created by Matteo di Giovanni in 1474 in Siena, as recorded in the work's catalog and Wikidata entries. The painting, a small devotional panel measuring approximately 29.8 by 31.0 centimeters, was produced during the artist's mature career in his native Siena. It is now held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1940.535, indicating that it entered that institution in 1940.
No further details regarding an earlier ownership chain, original commission, or pre-1940 provenance are documented in the available sources.
The Crucifixion is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is part of the permanent collection; the exact accession number is not specified in the available documentation. The painting, created by Matteo di Giovanni in 1474 in Siena, measures 29.8 × 31.0 cm and is classified as a religious work depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. Exhibition records are not documented in the sources consulted, so no exhibition history can be reported.
Overview
Matteo di Giovanni's The Crucifixion, executed in 1474, is a significant panel painting from the Sienese Quattrocento that depicts the execution of Jesus Christ on Calvary. The composition centers on the crucified figure, who wears a crown of thorns and displays visible wounds, set against a landscape of rolling hills and a rugged rocky cliff. The scene is populated by five distinct figures arranged to guide the viewer's emotional response.
Notably, a figure in blue holds the bridle of a white horse, while another clad in red armor gestures upward, directing attention toward the divine event. This work exemplifies Matteo di Giovanni's mature style, characterized by a dramatic narrative intensity and a distinct use of color that contrasts with the more serene traditions of earlier Sienese masters. Created during the height of the Italian Renaissance, the painting reflects the artist's ability to blend religious devotion with a dynamic, almost theatrical staging of the Passion.
It stands as a key example of mid-15th-century religious art in Siena, demonstrating the artist's skill in rendering human emotion and spatial depth within a traditional devotional format.
Technique & Style
Di Giovanni utilized a focused color scheme, predominantly employing blues, reds, and earth tones to ensure the viewer's attention remains on the central narrative. The composition carefully places the figures to enhance their emotional responses. The interplay of light and shadow further intensifies the drama, lending depth to the forms and emphasizing the gravity of the event unfolding.
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Artist & collection
Artist
A 15th-century Italian painter from the Renaissance era, Matteo di Giovanni’s altarpieces glow with soft golds and deep reds.
