Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
In this 1508 painting, a dark sky looms over a wooden cross. Jesus hangs with a pale, exhausted body. Mary in blue and John in red stand below him. A Roman soldier stabs his side with a spear.
Dürer shows the moment after death. The speckled sky suggests a storm passing. Tiny figures work in the distance. It’s a quiet scene, not dramatic.
Look up Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528) to see more.
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s *The Crucifixion* is a 1508 oil painting that depicts the biblical scene of Christ on the cross. Executed in a restrained palette, the composition places a dark, storm‑touched sky above a wooden cross on which the lifeless figure of Jesus hangs, surrounded by a small group of mourners and a Roman soldier.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures the immediate aftermath of the crucifixion, emphasizing the physical exhaustion of Christ and the quiet sorrow of his followers. Mary is shown in blue, John in red, while a soldier thrusts a spear into Jesus’ side, underscoring the violence of the moment without resorting to theatrical dramatization.
Technique & Style
Dürer applies his precise draftsmanship to the figures, rendering flesh tones and drapery with subtle chiaroscuro. The sky is rendered with speckled brushwork that suggests a passing storm, and the distant, diminutive figures are rendered with fine detail, reflecting the artist’s mastery of both painting and his renowned printmaking techniques.
History & Provenance
Created during Dürer’s mature period, the painting forms part of his broader output that includes engravings, woodcuts, and altarpieces. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on display as a representative example of the German Renaissance’s engagement with religious subjects.
Context
The composition reflects the intellectual currents of early sixteenth‑century Europe, where artists combined devotional imagery with a heightened interest in natural observation. Dürer’s treatment of the crucifixion aligns with contemporary theological emphasis on Christ’s humanity and suffering, while his meticulous rendering demonstrates the period’s advancing technical capabilities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
