Christ on the Cross between the Virgin and Saint John

Lucas Cranach

Cleveland Museum of Art

A color woodcut print depicts Christ on the cross with two figures on either side. The central figure, Christ, is on the cross with a halo behind his head; his body is lightly shaded with an emphasis on definition of the muscles; blood drips from the wounds on his hands; a loincloth wraps around his waist. On the left, the Virgin wears a blue cloak over a white head covering and dress with a reddish-brown undergarment; she also has a halo; she stands facing Christ. On the right, John wears a red cloak over a yellow garment; he also has a halo; he stands facing Christ with his hands clasped. The background shows a body of water with buildings on the other side; the sky is blue at the top with white clouds; green trees and hills are on either side; human skulls and bones lie scattered on the ground at the base of the cross. The border around the image is reddish-brown.