The Crucifixion (ca. 1420–23)
Original title: The Crucifixion
kurzbeschreibung
Fra Angelico's "The Crucifixion," made around 1420–23, presents the crucified Christ within a strictly ordered layout. This devotional panel is executed in tempera on wood over a gold ground and measures 63.8 × 48.3 cm.
Description
The gold ground catches the eye first, and the figures stand out sharply against it. Christ hangs from the wooden cross with his arms stretched far upward, blood running from his wounds. At the foot of the cross kneel Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, their hands covering their faces. A little to one side stands a bearded man in a red robe, praying with folded hands. Further back, soldiers ride with lances, their garments glowing in reds and blues. Above the cross, angels move in flight.
Context
Guido di Pietro, known as Fra Angelico, worked in the early Renaissance, a time when religious devotional images found wide appeal in Florence. The panel most likely served a private altar or chapel. Its subject follows the traditional iconography of the Crucifixion, often used by medieval and early Renaissance artists. A gold ground was then regarded as a sign of the divine.
Impact
From the first glance, a calm, collected mood emanates from the picture. The symmetrical arrangement and the luminous gold ground lift the scene into solemnity. Muted tones and the mourning figures draw the viewer into a devotional quiet that invites lingering.
Technique
The painting was done in tempera on wood, with egg yolk binding the pigments. For the gold ground, the artist applied gold leaf to a prepared surface. This method was common in fifteenth-century Italian panel painting and made the colors glow strongly.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)