Descent from the Cross

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The Descent from the Cross (ΑΠΟΚΑΘΗΛΩΣΙΣ), or Deposition, is the scene as depicted in art, from the story of Christ when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took him down from the cross after his crucifixion. In Byzantine art the topic became popular in the 9th century, and in the Occident from the 10th century.

Other figures not mentioned in the Gospels who are often included in paintings of this subject include St. John the Evangelist, who is sometimes depicted supporting a fainting Mary (as in the work at right by Van der Weyden), and Mary Magdalene.

[edit] Examples

• Cod. Grec. 510 (9th century Byzantine, Paris, National library)
• Codex Egberti (ca. 980, Trier city library).
• Externsteine relief (12th century)
• Toros Roslin (13th century) [1]
• Byzantine Museum of Kastoria (ca. 1400) [2]
• Rogier van der Weyden (ca. 1438, Prado collection, Madrid) [3]
• Rosso Fiorentino (1521, Volterra Cathedral) [4]
• Nicolas Mostaert (1579) [5]
• Rubens (1611-14, Antwerp cathedral) The Descent from the Cross
• Rembrandt (1634, Hermitage St. Petersburg) [6] [7] [8]
• Athens, Benaki Museum No. 3001 (ca. 1700) [9]
• John Baptist Jackson, (1738) [10]
• Gustave Dore [11]
• Max Beckman (1917) [12]
• Enrique Miguel de la Vega [13]

Peter Paul Rubens. The Descent from the Cross. c. 1611-1614. Oil on wood. 420.5 × 320 cmCathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp.

Rembrandt van Rijn. Deposition. 1633. Oil on wood. 89.4 × 65.2 cm.

Nedtagelsen (Deposition) by Norwegian painter Ludvig Karsten (1976-1926)

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