Deposition from the Cross

Art Historical Context

Henri Fantin-Latour's *Deposition from the Cross (1893) captures a poignant moment from the Passion of Christ, depicting the careful lowering of Jesus's body from the cross—a theme revered in Western art since the Middle Ages. The French artist (1836–1904), renowned for his meticulous realism in portraits and still lifes, turned to lithography late in his career to evoke the grandeur of old masters like Rubens and Rembrandt. This print reflects his deep admiration for 17th-century Baroque drama, blending solemnity with emotional intensity. Printed in black ink on delicate ivory chine—thin Chinese paper collé (glued) to a sturdier support—the work exemplifies 19th-century lithography's prowess for tonal subtlety and fine lines. Measuring 32 × 45.2 cm, it showcases Fantin-Latour's virtuoso draftsmanship, allowing intricate shading and expressive gestures that mimic painting's depth. Lithography, pioneered in the late 1700s, democratized art by enabling affordable multiples, making sacred narratives accessible beyond elite collectors. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this lithograph highlights Fantin-Latour's role in bridging Realism and historical revivalism, inviting viewers to contemplate faith, mortality, and artistic legacy in a single, haunting image.

About the Artist

Henri Fantin-Latour · 1836–1904

Ignace Henri Jean Théodore Fantin-Latour was born on January 14, 1836, in Grenoble, France, to portrait painter Théodore Fantin-Latour, who gave him his earliest drawing lessons. The family relocated to Paris in 1841, where in 1850, at age 14, he enrolled in the École de Dessin, studying under Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, whose innovative memory-based method of drawing from observation profoundly ...