Introduction

Christ on the Cross

The Christ Rembrandt portrayed here, merely a man nailed to a cross, is a far cry from the glorious, impassive anatomy dictated by tradition. The face, too, is no longer an archetype but individualized. Rembrandt’s research into the expression of human passions, particularly in his etchings, found its perfect expression here.
Rembrandt (Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn) (1606 – 1669)
1631
Oil on canvas mounted on wood – H. 92.9 cm; W. 72.6 cm – Signed and dated beneath Christ’s feet: RHL 1631 – Collegiate church of Saint Vincent, Le Mas d’Agenais
© Eglise du Mas-d'Agenais, France / Giraudon / Bridgeman-Giraudon