Removal from the cross
- Subject
- Late Gothic retable depicting scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus
- Author, school, workshop
- Wit Stwosz (ca. 1448-1533)
- Contributor
- -
- Style
- Late Gothic
- Date
- 1477-1489
- Type
- Altarpiece in the form of a pentaptych
- Material and technique
- Wood/carving, gilding, polychrome
- Size
- 2,5 × 2,3 m
- Signatures and inscriptions
- -
- Identity number
- -
- Department
- -
- Links/analogies
- -
- Owner
- Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
- Copyright
- Saint Mary's Basilica in Krakow
- Location
- Saint Mary's altar (by Wit Stwosz) in the presbytery
- Description
- One of the apostles
Late Gothic retable depicting scenes from the lives of Mary and Jesus
Wit Stwosz (ca. 1448-1533)
Late Gothic
Altarpiece in the form of a pentaptych
Wood/sculpture, gilding, polychrome
St Mary's Basilica in Cracow
St Mary's altar (by Wit Stwosz) in the presbytery
2,5 × 2,3 m
The scene of the removal from the cross is full of peace and tranquillity. The body of Jesus, laid reverently on a white veil, is embraced by his mother, frozen in silent pain at the loss of her beloved Son. Mary Magdalene took hold of the Master's forearm to anoint it in a moment with fragrances from a tin; after all, so recently, in Simon's house, she had poured oil on his feet and rubbed them with her own hair. The rich cap on the woman's head is probably a reminder of her former "worldly" life and the sins that have been forgiven. Off to the side, two stolid men, Jesus' secret disciples Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, discuss the details of the funeral.
