Artwork
The crucifixion
The crucifixion is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work is an oil painting that depicts a crucifixion scene.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Rendered in oil on an oak panel, the modest scale of the composition suits its devotional purpose, allowing for intimate engagement with the sacred narrative.
The painting depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, identified as the work's main subject. Classified within the genre of religious art, the scene centers on the moment of Christ's death on the cross, a foundational event in Christian iconography associated with sacrifice, redemption, and salvation. The work belongs to a tradition of devotional imagery produced in the early sixteenth century, when crucifixion scenes were among the most frequently commissioned subjects for private religious contemplation and church altarpieces alike.
Rendered in oil on an oak panel, the modest scale of the composition suits its devotional purpose, allowing for intimate engagement with the sacred narrative.
Technique & Style
Created in 1530, this religious painting is executed in oil paint on an oak panel support. The work measures 46.5 cm in height and 32 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece is attributed to a Netherlandish artist active around 1530 and depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The application of oil medium on wood was characteristic of the region and period, allowing for the detailed rendering of the central figure.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is currently located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Created around 1530, the work is cataloged within the museum's collection of religious art. The inventory records the piece as an oil painting on an oak panel, measuring 46.5 cm in height and 32 cm in width. The subject matter depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is provided in the available records.
Overview
The work is an oil painting that depicts a crucifixion scene. At the composition’s centre a male figure hangs from a cross, his limbs extended. Beneath him a woman in dark attire stands with folded hands, while a robed man kneels nearby, his gaze directed upward. The backdrop features a distant urban skyline, stormy clouds, a modest hill and scattered trees.
Context
Created as a religious composition, the painting reflects the longstanding tradition of portraying the crucifixion in Western art. While specific dates and provenance are not provided, the use of chiaroscuro aligns it with Baroque sensibilities, where dramatic lighting was a favored device to convey spiritual drama and human suffering.
Artist & collection
