The Crucifixion
ca. 1420–23
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
25 1/8 x 19 in. (63.8 x 48.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Maitland F. Griggs Collection, Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943
Accession Number
43.98.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Fra Angelico, the Dominican friar and Early Renaissance master born Guido di Pietro, created *The Crucifixion* around 1420–23, a pivotal moment when Italian art bridged medieval traditions and emerging naturalism. This tempera on wood panel with gold ground, measuring 25 1/8 x 19 inches, exemplifies the devotional panels prized by private patrons in early 15th-century Florence. The luminous gold background, a hallmark of International Gothic influence, evokes heavenly radiance, drawing viewers into spiritual contemplation. At the center, Christ hangs on the cross amid a poignant assembly: the...