Christ on the Cross

Deutsche Grafik 1483–1490, c. 1485

This is a drawing of a crucifixion scene. It features a central wooden cross with a man's figure nailed to it, wearing a crown of thorns and a cloth around his waist. Above the man's head is a plaque with the inscription "INRI." Two other figures with ornate halos stand on either side of the cross. One figure appears to be grieving with bowed head and clasped hands, while the other looks upward. The background includes flora patches, and there are symbolic illustrations in elaborate frames in the image's corners. The style is characteristic of medieval or early Renaissance religious art, focusing on line work and a limited color palette.
Artist
Deutsche Grafik 1483–1490
Date
c. 1485
Type
Print
Medium
woodcut, hand-colored in brown, tan, ochre, olive,and red on laid paper
Dimensions
22 × 14.4 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This is a drawing of a crucifixion scene. It features a central wooden cross with a man's figure nailed to it, wearing a crown of thorns and a cloth around his waist. Above the man's head is a plaque with the inscription "INRI." Two other figures with ornate halos stand on either side of the cross. One figure appears to be grieving with bowed head and clasped hands, while the other looks upward. The background includes flora patches, and there are symbolic illustrations in elaborate frames in the image's corners. The style is characteristic of medieval or early Renaissance religious art, focusing on line work and a limited color palette.

Deutsche Grafik 1483–1490