Christ on the cross, Saint John to the right looking toward him, to the left is the fainting Virgin Mary supported by two women
Orazio Bertelli|Agostino Carracci|Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), 1582
About this artwork
This evocative engraving, titled *Christ on the Cross, John to the Right Looking Toward Him, to the the Fainting Virgin Mary Supported Two Women*, captures a emotional moment from the Crucifixion. 1582, it depicts Jesus nailed to the cross at center, with the devoted Saint John gazing up in sorrow on the right, and the Virgin Mary collapsing in grief on the left, steadied by two compassionate women. The composition draws from traditional Christian iconography, emphasizing human tenderness amid divine suffering, a theme resonant during the late Renaissance and Counter-Reformation. Attributed to engravers Orazio Bertelli and Agostino Carracci after a design by the Venetian master Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), the print showcases Veronese's dramatic style—known for its rich emotion, elegant figures, and theatrical lighting—translated into the precise lines of engraving. Veronese, a leading figure in Venetian painting, often infused religious scenes with grandeur and realism. Engraving, a meticulous intaglio technique where images are incised into a metal plate for inking and printing, allowed such masterpieces to reach wider audiences beyond oil paintings, democratizing art in 16th-century Europe. Measuring 12 3/16 × 8 9/16 inches, this sheet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department highlights the era's innovative print culture, blending piety with artistic virtuosity to inspire devotion. A testament to collaborative genius, it invites visitors to ponder the shared humanity in sacred narratives.