Artwork
The Descent from the Cross
The Descent from the Cross is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Created in 1496, this panel portrays the biblical episode of Christ’s removal from the cross.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1496, this panel portrays the biblical episode of Christ’s removal from the cross. Executed by the anonymous Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece, a German painter active in Cologne during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the work belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition and is now part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the somber act of lowering Jesus’ lifeless body, surrounded by a small group of mourners. A man in a red hat steadies the corpse, while women in long robes—one kneeling in a pink garment, another standing in white—offer prayers and watch the descent, emphasizing themes of devotion, sorrow, and the human response to divine sacrifice.
Technique & Style
The painting reflects a Gothic‑influenced aesthetic, evident in its detailed drapery, elongated figures, and the architectural backdrop of a stone archway with a ladder. The artist’s handling of light and color, particularly the muted palette and careful modeling of flesh, underscores the solemn atmosphere of the scene.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece, the work remained in German collections before entering the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Its attribution rests on stylistic parallels with other altarpieces linked to the same anonymous hand, active roughly between 1475 and 1510.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece
The Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece (sometimes called the Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altar) was an Early Netherlandish painter active in Germany, mostly Cologne, between 1475/1480 and 1510.
Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece: Saint John the Evangelist and Margaret
The Adoration of the Magi
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Saint James the Great of Compostella
The Holy Family
Saint Veronica
Death of Mary
The Meeting of the Three Kings, with David and Isaiah (recto); The Assumption of the Virgin (verso)
