Mar 04 2008
Faith in Art
I haven’t had a “Faith in Art” post in quite awhile, and I think this piece makes up for the long hiatus. This is The Crucifixion by Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti), painted in about 1565. The painting is in the Scuola di San Rocco in Venice.
What strikes me about this work is the artist’s depiction of day-to-day life in the midst of one of the most important events in human history. Here’s what Art Archive has to say:
The scene is a vast one, and although Christ is on the Cross, life does not stop. To most of the people gathered there, what takes place is no more than a common execution. Many of them are attending to it as to a tedious duty. Others work away at some menial task more or less connected with the Crucifixion, as unconcerned as cobblers humming over their last [shoe]. Most of the people in the huge canvas are represented, as no doubt they were in life, without much personal feeling about Christ. His own friends are painted with all their grief and despair, but the others are allowed to feel as they please. The painter does not try to give them the proper emotions.
Among this multitude he allowed the light of heaven to shine upon the wicked as well as upon the good, and the air to refresh them all equally.
Here’s a great link to a more detailed description at Patum Paterium.
March 7th, 2008 at 01:26 am
Very cool… Thanks for posting this.