Artwork
Christ on the Cross mourned by the Virgin Mary and Saints Mary Magdalene and John
Christ on the Cross mourned by the Virgin Mary and Saints Mary Magdalene and John is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Master Francesco. It dates from 1396 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Master Francesco completed Christ on the Cross mourned by the Virgin Mary and Saints Mary Magdalene and John in 1396. This religious painting portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, attended by the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint Mary Magdalene. The artwork is presently housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is Jesus Christ on the cross, depicted with outstretched arms and a tilted head, illuminated by a halo and a sun behind him. Below, the Virgin Mary, Saint Mary Magdalene, and Saint John the Evangelist are shown in attitudes of mourning. This arrangement underscores the emotional gravity and spiritual significance of the crucifixion event.
Technique & Style
The artist utilizes a range of colors to achieve a sense of depth and emotional resonance within the scene. Christ's figure is rendered in a dramatic pose, while the Virgin Mary and the saints are clad in simple, flowing garments. A light background provides contrast, with darker shading at the edges, contributing to the overall composition.
Artist & collection
Artist
This 14th-century Italian painter made altarpieces for churches, full of quiet sorrow and gold-leaf halos.
