Artwork
The Crucifixion (centre); The Angel Gabriel and a Saint (left); The Virgin and St James (right)
The Crucifixion (centre); The Angel Gabriel and a Saint (left); The Virgin and St James (right) is an unspecified painting by the Gothic painting artist Simone dei Crocifissi. It dates from 1374 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Around 1374 the Bolognese painter Simone dei Crocifissi completed a three‑panel devotional work now in the Ashmolean Museum. The central image presents the crucifixion, flanked by a left panel with an angelic figure and a saint, and a right panel showing the Virgin with Saint James. The composition follows the Gothic triptych format common in late medieval Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The central scene concentrates on the crucified Christ, attended by a kneeling group of two women and a man, evoking the sorrow of the Passion. The left wing pairs the Archangel Gabriel with an unidentified saint, while the right wing juxtaposes the Virgin Mary with Saint James, highlighting themes of annunciation, intercession, and pilgrimage.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on wood, the panels are dominated by gold leaf and richly patterned backgrounds, characteristic of the Gothic aesthetic. Figures are rendered in elongated robes with fine detailing, and the overall composition emphasizes linear elegance over naturalistic space.
History & Provenance
Simone dei Crocifissi, active in Bologna from the early 1330s until his death in 1399, was known for panel paintings and frescoes in local churches. This triptych, likely commissioned for a private chapel or confraternity, entered the Ashmolean Museum collection in the 20th century, where it remains on display.
Context
The work reflects the devotional practices of late medieval Italy, where triptychs served as focal points for personal prayer. Its iconography aligns with contemporary theological emphasis on the Passion, the Annunciation, and the veneration of saints, integrating them into a unified visual narrative.
Artist & collection
Artist
Simone di Filippo Benvenuti, known as Simone dei Crocifissi or Simone da Bologna (about 1330 - 1399), was an Italian painter.
Nativity of Christ
The Crucifixion
The Virgin and Saint Elizabeth with the Infant Saint John (casket lid, back); The Four Evangelists with Saint Christopher, Saint Anthony Abbot, Saint Liberius (casket, back)
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- Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints; Crucifixion; Coronation of the Virgin
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The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene
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Virgin Enthroned with Saints, Nativity and Crucifixion
Crucifixion with the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist