The Crucifixion

About this work

This painting shows a man nailed to a cross, surrounded by four people. The man on the cross has a crown of thorns and looks calm. Below him, three women kneel—one holds a cloth to her face, another clutches the cross, and a third sits with her head down. A fourth person in red stands to the right, hands raised as if praying. The background has a small town and a tree, with a soft blue sky. The figures’ faces are smooth, and the colors are muted but warm, especially the reds and blues in the clothing. Want to know more? Check out chiaroscuro, the technique that uses strong light and shadow.