The Crucifixion

By Andrea di Bartolo, c. 1400
JPG • 3919 × 2103 PX • 3.3 MB
Curatorial Notes

The painting depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary, between the two thieves, surrounded by Roman soldiers, disciples, and witnesses to his death. On the left, the Virgin Mary faints from grief and is supported by other women, while Saint John the Evangelist mourns Christ's death. On the right, mounted soldiers observe the scene, while others divide his garments, an episode narrated in the Gospel of Saint John (Jn 19:23–24). Originally, the work occupied the center of the predella, the lower section of an altarpiece dedicated to the Passion of Christ. The ensemble was later dismantled, and its five panels were dispersed among different collections. In addition to the Crucifixion, it included the Betrayal of Judas, the Way to Calvary, the Lamentation over the Dead Christ, and the Resurrection. Researchers were able to reconstruct this sequence through comparisons of style, dimensions, and the panels' physical characteristics. The dynamic composition, expressions of suffering, and gold background reveal the influence of Siena's Gothic tradition, particularly that of the artist's father, Bartolo di Fredi.

Artwork Identification

Title The Crucifixion
Title (PT) A Crucificação
Title (ES) La Crucifixión
Artist Andrea di Bartolo
Artist Bio Andrea di Bartolo (c. 1360–1428) was an Italian painter and manuscript illuminator born in Siena, where he began his artistic training in the workshop of his father, Bartolo di Fredi. He became an important representative of Sienese Gothic painting, producing altarpieces, frescoes, and religious manuscript illuminations. He worked in several Italian cities, including Siena, Treviso, and Venice. His style, initially close to that of his father, later incorporated influences from Taddeo di Bartolo, distinguished by vivid colors, narrative compositions, and expressive figures.
Date c. 1400
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta