Crucifixion (Antonello da Messina)
The Crucifixion is the subject of three different paintings by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina; the first two were completed around 1454/1455, the third in 1475. They are housed in the Brukenthal National Museum (Sibiu, Romania); the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium) and in the National Gallery (London, UK), respectively.
 | |
| Artist | Antonello da Messina |
|---|---|
| Year | 1454-1455 |
| Type | Oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 39 cm × 23.5 cm (15 in × 9.3 in) |
| Location |
Brukenthal National Museum Sibiu, Romania |
The Sibiu Crucifixion
An early work appearing to be influenced by the Flemish school, the Sibiu Crucifixion was formerly attributed to an unknown 14th century German painter. A symbolic view of Messina is depicted in the background, probably an allusion to Jerusalem as requested by the unknown client, in a typical fashion of the time.
 | |
| Artist | Antonello da Messina |
|---|---|
| Year | 1454-1455 |
| Type | Oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 59.7 cm × 42.5 cm (23.5 in × 16.7 in) |
| Location |
Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp Antwerp, Belgium |
The Antwerp Crucifixion
The Antwerp Crucifixion represents Christ crucified between two evil-doers, with Mary and John the Evangelist seated on the ground. The work shows a landscape typical of the Flemish school in the lower part; the well devised spatial disposition of the crosses in the upper half demonstrates a full knowledge of the innovative method of perspective known to Italian art of the period. The Italian scholar Roberto Longhi asserted that the upper part was added several years later.
 | |
| Artist | Antonello da Messina |
|---|---|
| Year | 1475 |
| Type | Oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 42 cm × 25.5 cm (17 in × 10.0 in) |
| Location |
National Gallery London, UK |
The London Crucifixion
Belonging to a later phase, the London Crucifixion is one of the few paintings signed and dated by Antonello: "1475/antonellus messaneus/me pinxit". The geometrical composition is divided in two parts by the cross and the lake in the background, with the Virgin on the left and St. John on the right.