Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Pedro Orrente. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of these figures and objects aligns with the traditional representation of the event, emphasizing its theological significance in Christian art.
The painting depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus, a central subject in Christian iconography. It includes key figures such as Jesus Christ on the cross, the Virgin Mary, and John the Evangelist, who are traditionally present at the Crucifixion. Additional elements include a ladder and a dog, which may symbolize the tools of the Passion and the presence of the faithful, respectively.
The inclusion of these figures and objects aligns with the traditional representation of the event, emphasizing its theological significance in Christian art.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1625, this religious painting by Pedro Orrente utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures approximately 123.8 centimeters in height and 102.9 centimeters in width. Visually, the composition depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, incorporating specific figures such as John the Evangelist and Mary alongside a ladder and a dog.
The piece is classified as a painting within the religious genre, characterized by its oil medium which allows for the detailed rendering of the human forms and narrative elements central to the scene.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Crucifixion was painted by Pedro Orrente in 1625 using oil on canvas, as recorded in the artist's catalogue entry and confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection data. It belongs to the religious painting genre and was produced as a devotional image, though specific commission details are not documented. The painting entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and has been displayed there since its acquisition, with its dimensions recorded as 123.8 cm by 102.9 cm. The work remains part of the museum's permanent holdings.
Overview
This oil painting portrays the biblical event of the Crucifixion, presenting a dramatic and emotionally charged scene. Three men are depicted on crosses, their bodies contorted in agony. Below, soldiers are gathered around a ladder, while two women express profound grief, one clutching a man's hand.
The composition is intensified by a turbulent, dark sky, rendered in deep greens and reds, which contributes to the somber and heavy atmosphere of the work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pedro de Orrente (April 1580 – 19 January 1645) was a Spanish painter of the early Baroque period. He became one of the first artists in that part of Spain to paint in a Naturalistic style.
