Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work titled The Crucifixion, attributed to the artist recorded as 30513_person, dates to around 1648. Executed as an image, it is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition presents a central figure on a cross flanked by two others, surrounded by a varied crowd.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts the biblical episode of the crucifixion, with the central nailed figure representing the crucified individual, accompanied by two companions traditionally identified as the thieves. The surrounding onlookers, some kneeling, others standing, convey a range of emotional responses to the event.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a pronounced chiaroscuro effect, using stark contrasts of light and dark to isolate the figures from the background. This lighting creates a focal illumination that emphasizes facial expressions and bodily gestures, lending the composition a dramatic intensity.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1648, the image entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to 30513_person remains based on museum records, with no further documented changes of ownership.
Context
The painting reflects the 17th‑century European tradition of religious narrative art, wherein dramatic lighting and emotive crowds were common devices to engage viewers spiritually. Its inclusion in an ethnographic museum suggests an interest in the cultural portrayal of sacred themes.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
