Artwork
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion is an ink print by the Baroque artist Antonio Tempesta. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Tempesta's 1612 etching, The Crucifixion, exemplifies the artist's versatility in producing religious imagery alongside his more typical battle scenes and historical depictions.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a crowded crucifixion scene, with a central figure on the cross surrounded by soldiers, mourners, and onlookers, conveying a sense of chaos and drama through the arrangement of figures.
Technique & Style
Tempesta's use of etching allows for precise detail and dramatic contrasts of light and dark, creating depth and emphasizing the central figure against the surrounding turmoil.
Context
The Crucifixion is part of a body of work that reflects Tempesta's position at the intersection of Baroque Rome and Antwerp's artistic traditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
