Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adriaen van der Werff. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Adriaen van der Werff’s oil painting *The Crucifixion* was completed in 1708. Executed in a Rococo idiom, the work presents the biblical moment of Christ on the cross and is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the crucified Jesus, his arms outstretched and head inclined upward, surrounded by a small crowd that includes a woman in a blue garment and a man in brown. The gathering conveys the sorrow and devotion associated with the Passion narrative.
Technique & Style
Van der Werff employs a restrained palette of browns, grays and muted tones, rendering the figures with careful attention to facial expression and attire. Subtle chiaroscuro models the forms, creating depth and emphasizing the central figure against a darkened sky and distant trees.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display. Van der Werff, noted for portraits, mythological scenes and religious commissions, also worked for the Medici family and often collaborated with his brother Pieter, who assisted as a pupil.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van der Werff (21 January 1659 – 12 November 1722) was a Dutch painter of portraits and erotic, devotional and mythological scenes.
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Self-portrait with the Portrait of his Wife, Margaretha van Rees, and their Daughter Maria
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