Christ on the Cross

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a central figure hanging from a wooden cross with two other figures standing on either side. The central figure has arms outstretched along the crossbeam, head tilted downward, a crown of thorns, closed eyes, a beard, and short dark hair. The central figure is minimally clothed with a cloth around the waist. The figures on either side have halos. On the left, a figure wears a blue cloak over a draped garment, with hands clasped in front and a serene expression. On the right, the figure has curly blonde hair, wears a long cloak over a tunic, and has hands clasped together. The background depicts a pastoral scene with a blue and white sky and green ground.