The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion by Paolo Uccello (Paolo di Dono), dating from 1453-1457, is a profound Early Renaissance painting executed using tempera on wood, distinguished by its traditional, luminous gold ground. This devotional panel, which captures a moment of intense sorrow and divine sacrifice, is a treasured component of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection.

Uccello depicts the tragic final hours of Christ, focusing on the highly emotive group gathered at the foot of the cross. The iconography is rich: the composition includes the distressed Women, the grieving Saint John the Evangelist, and the repentant figure of Mary Magdalene clinging to the base. Lamenting angels hover near the crossbeam, emphasizing the celestial significance of the moment. Intriguingly, the composition incorporates the figures of nuns, possibly serving as contemporary witnesses or representing the specific religious order that commissioned the painting. Elements referencing the Madonna and Child are also integrated, serving as a reminder of the human and divine origins of Christ’s suffering.

While Uccello is celebrated for his revolutionary application of linear perspective, this work utilizes the opulent, flat aesthetics associated with the gold-ground tradition, providing a powerful contrast between meticulous detail and spiritual abstraction. The painting’s complex narrative and historical import make it a frequent subject of scholarly review. Reflecting its status as a canonical work of art history, high-resolution prints of The Crucifixion are often made available through the museum’s public domain initiatives, allowing wider public appreciation of Uccello’s distinctive Florentine style.