The artwork titled “Crucifixion Diptych,” created by Rogier van der Weyden in 1460, is an oil on panel painting, emblematic of the Northern Renaissance art movement. It measures 180.3 by 186.4 cm and is categorized as a religious painting. This piece is part of a diptych series and is currently housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
The artwork portrays the crucifixion scene of Jesus Christ with vivid realism and emotional intensity. It is divided into two panels: the left panel depicts the Virgin Mary collapsing in sorrow, supported by Saint John the Evangelist; the right panel displays the crucified Christ, his head bowed in death. The use of vibrant red backgrounds behind the figures enhances their dramatic presence and highlights the emotional gravitas of the scene. A skull and bone at the foot of the cross symbolize death and Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion. Van der Weyden’s meticulous attention to detail and the somber expressions of the figures are characteristic of the Northern Renaissance’s focus on realism and human emotion in religious subjects.
