The Crucifixion

By Francesco Granacci, ca. 1510
JPG • 3867 × 3249 PX • 3.1 MB
Curatorial Notes

Painted around 1510, this portable triptych brings together three central events of the Christian faith: Jesus' death on the cross, his Resurrection, and the Last Judgment. In the central panel, the crucified Christ is accompanied by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, while the side wings depict the risen Jesus and the soldiers near the empty tomb on the left, and Christ as Judge, surrounded by the heavenly court, with the dead rising for judgment on the right. An interesting detail is the inscription above the cross, presenting the title "Jesus Christ, King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as described in the Gospel of Saint John (Jn 19:19–20). In the Last Judgment scene, one of the resurrected figures looks directly at the viewer, symbolically drawing them into the event. Intended for private devotion, the painting could be easily closed and transported. Although produced during the High Renaissance, its structure revives a triptych format popular in Tuscany about a century earlier, while its continuous landscape reveals influences from Northern European painting. An old inventory label on the reverse indicates that the work once belonged to the Florentine Stiozzi Ridolfi family.

Artwork Identification

Title The Crucifixion
Title (PT) A Crucificação
Title (ES) La Crucifixión
Artist Francesco Granacci
Artist Bio Francesco Granacci (1469–1543) was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Villamagna, near Florence. He trained in the workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio, where he met Michelangelo, with whom he became friends. In 1508, he was called to Rome to assist with work on the Sistine Chapel but returned to Florence that same year. He became known for his religious paintings and contributed to the decoration of the Borgherini family's bridal chamber. His work combines the Florentine tradition of the 15th century with influences from artists such as Fra Bartolomeo and Andrea del Sarto.
Date ca. 1510
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta