The Crucifixion
in or before 1509
Medium
woodcut
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.1.49
Art Historical Context
**The Crucifixion** by Lucas Cranach the, created in or before 150, captures one of Christianity's most profound moments through the bold medium of woodcut. early print from the German Renaissance master depicts Christ's suffering on the cross, surrounded by mourning figures, exemplifying Cranach's skill in conveying deep emotion with stark contrasts and intricate details. Housed in the National Gallery Art's Rosenwald CollectionDepartment CG-E), it reflects the era's growing accessibility of religious art via printmaking. Cranach (1472–1553), a key figure in the Northern Renaissance, blended...
About the Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder · 1472–1553
Lucas Cranach the Elder (c. 1472-1553) was one of the most prominent German Renaissance painters and a key artistic figure of the Protestant Reformation. Born in Kronach, Franconia, to the painter Hans Maler, Cranach began his career in Vienna around 1502, where he became one of the founders of the Danube School, a movement characterized by expressive landscape painting and emotional force. His ea...