The artwork titled “Crucifixion” is attributed to Michelangelo and dates to 1540. It was created in Rome, Italy, and employs oil on panel as its medium. This piece is an emblematic example of the Mannerism movement, which marks the latter phase of the Renaissance, and it falls within the category of religious painting, reflecting the spiritual preoccupations of the era.
In the artwork, the central figure of Jesus Christ is depicted on the cross, a common subject in religious art, particularly during the Renaissance, meant to evoke the pathos of the crucifixion. Surrounding him are figures who are traditionally identified as the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and possibly Saint John the Evangelist, expressing a range of emotions from despair to devotion. Their elongated forms and the sophisticated, expressive postures are characteristic of Mannerism, which sought to depict figures with elegance and an almost otherworldly grace. The palette is subdued, relying on earth tones that give focus to the dramatic interplay of gesture and expression. The presence of the skull at the foot of the cross serves as a memento mori, a reminder of mortality and the Christian belief in resurrection.
