Christ on the Cross

Heinrich Aldegrever

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a full-body view of three individuals and part of the body of Christ on the cross. Christ is positioned centrally, with his arms spread and nailed to the cross, and his head slightly bowed. He has a crown of thorns, wavy hair, a solemn facial expression, and a lean build. Christ's body is mostly unclothed, with a cloth covering his waist. He is surrounded by three figures; on the left is a woman with a solemn expression, possibly Mary, shown in profile with her head covered in a veil. She has her hands clasped in prayer. On the right is a man with long hair, likely John, holding his hands together, wearing a robe, and looking towards Christ. Below Christ's feet is a skull. The background features Latin inscriptions on panels beside Christ's arms, a landscape visible in the distance behind Christ, and a plain sky above. The artwork's intricate line work and shading create a sense of depth.