Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pedro Orrente. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, showing the central moment of his sacrifice on the cross.
The painting portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, showing the central moment of his sacrifice on the cross. It emphasizes the suffering and redemptive nature of the event within Christian theology, reflecting the traditional religious iconography associated with the Passion narrative. The work is classified as a religious artwork and is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it contributes to the museum's collection of devotional paintings from the early 17th century.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 153 cm by 128 cm, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Pedro Orrente renders the scene with characteristic Baroque chiaroscuro, emphasizing the dramatic lighting that highlights the central figures and their gestures. The composition is formalized through a balanced arrangement of the mourners and angels, while the handling of pigment conveys both the tactile surface of the canvas and the luminous depth of the oil medium.
History & Provenance
The Crucifixion by Pedro Orrente is dated to 1630, aligning with the artist’s mature period in Spain. The work entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains held. Its creation coincides with Orrente’s activity in Madrid and Toledo, where he produced large-scale religious canvases for ecclesiastical patrons and collectors.
The painting’s dimensions are recorded as 153 cm in height and 128 cm in width, consistent with works intended for altarpieces or devotional display.
The work is held by the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is inventoried as oil on canvas, 153 cm high by 128 cm wide.
It has been exhibited publicly as part of the Prado’s permanent holdings of Spanish Golden Age religious painting, including displays dedicated to Pedro Orrente’s work.
Overview
Created in 1630, this oil painting portrays the crucifixion scene central to Christian narrative. The composition places the figure of Christ on the central cross, flanked by two other crucified men, while a gathering of onlookers occupies the foreground. The overall atmosphere is somber, underscored by a darkened background that hints at a distant landscape.
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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.
