Christ on the Cross

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a crucifixion scene. The painting features a central figure on a wooden cross, set against a landscape that includes rolling green hills and a distant city with towers and red roofs. To the left and right of the central figure, there are two haloed figures clad in blue and red robes. Above the scene, celestial elements like the sun and moon are illustrated, each with expressive faces. Surrounding the central scene are roundel enclosures containing animals and additional figures. The entire scene is bordered with a vivid red outline. It is in the style of Medieval European religious art.