Descent from the Cross

Rendered in tempera, the painting displays the characteristic fine brushwork and delicate coloration of early 14th‑century Gothic art. A restrained palette of browns, blues and reds creates a muted atmosphere, while visible strokes give the surface a tactile quality that enhances the solemn tone.

Created in the early 1330s, the panel eventually entered the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Martini aligns with his known output of religious works for Italian patrons during the period.

The work reflects the devotional practices of the period, when narrative panels were used to illustrate key events of the Passion for private or ecclesiastical settings. Martini’s treatment of the descent combines courtly elegance with an emotional gravity typical of International Gothic painting.