Christ on the Cross with the Virgin and Saint John
1408
Egg tempera and gold on wood
As you study this painting of Christ’s death on the cross, you may ask why the artist has chosen to omit any sense of tragedy and suffering. Instead, dramatic narrative is transformed into a timeless symbol of redemption. Christ’s mother and his closest disciple, St. John, flank the cross in attitudes of adoration and acceptance of his sacrifice, serving as an example for the devout viewer who meditates on his death. Above, the pelican piercing her breast to feed her young is a symbol of Christ’s self-sacrifice. The painting still has its original frame, which bears the date 1408 and an inscription praising the Virgin Mary. Samuel H
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