The Crucifixion
This is a study of The Crucifixion by Alonso Cano, the "Michelangelo of Spain". He did several different versions of the Crucifixion but this is my favorite. The original (1636) is at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
This smaller version of the original depicts Christ on the cross, using only three nails, a departure from the four-nail standard advocated by Cano’s teacher, Francisco Pacheco. The work employs tenebrism, with stark contrasts between light and dark, focusing attention on Christ’s body against a dark background. A crimson strip of dawn on the horizon adds a tragic resonance, reflecting the natural world’s response to Christ’s death.
- Medium :
Oil On Wood Panel
- Size :
31cm x 46cm