Christ on the Cross
1631
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Paulus Pontius
Paulus Pontius (27 May 1603 – 16 January 1658) was a Flemish engraver and painter.
See the richer artist page1631
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ on the Cross is a 1631 ink by Paulus Pontius, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a man nailed to a cross with his arms stretched wide. Around him, two winged figures hover—one on each side—looking upward. Below, a small town sits under a dark sky, while above, a half-arch frames Latin words. The artist used deep shadows and sharp lines to make the scene feel dramatic. The man’s muscles and the angels’ wings are carved with tiny, crisscrossed lines to add texture. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows this way.
Paulus Pontius (27 May 1603 – 16 January 1658) was a Flemish engraver and painter.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
