![](http://www.alamy.com/thumbs/6/8361E4EB-3833-4E41-9859-46EA3D8BFD60/HRP1G6.jpg)
The Crucifixion by Jan Provost
The Crucifixion attributed to Jan Provost, oil on wood, 1495. This exquisite private devotional painting contrasts Mary's joy at the Annunciation, shown in the background, with her sorrow at the Crucifixion, where she swoons in John's arms. The darkened sky heightens the poignancy of the Passion scene. Scattered around the cross are bones, referring to the belief that Adam's skull was located on Golgotha. The pairing of the Annunciation and the Crucifixion accords with the medieval tradition that dedicated March 25th to the memory of Adam, the Annunciation, and Christ's death, thus relating the Fall of Man, the conception of Christ, and the redemption of mankind offered by his death. According to the accounts in the New Testament, Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally crucified. Collectively referred to as the Passion, Jesus' suffering and redemptive death by crucifixion are the central aspects of Christian theology concerning the doctrines of salvation and atonement. Jesus' crucifixion is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament Epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and is firmly established as a historical event confirmed by non-Christian sources, though there is no consensus on the precise details of what exactly occurred.
Size: 3297px × 4050px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, 1495, 15th, ages, art, arts, artwork, bible, biblical, blessed, catholic, century, christ, christian, christianity, crown, crucifixion, culture, event, famous, female, fine, god, golgotha, grieving, historic, historical, history, important, jan, jesus, lamenting, male, man, mary, medieval, men, messiah, middle, mother, mourning, mundi, nazareth, notable, oil, painting, passion, prophet, provost, redeemer, religion, religious, roman, saint, salvator, savior, son, sorrow, testament, thorns, virgin, women, wood, world