Crucifixion c. 1872 - 1879

"Crucifixion" is an oil on canvas painting by American artist William Merritt Chase. Painted between 1872 and 1879, the work features a lone figure in a pose reminiscent of a traditional crucifixion scene, but with a modern focus on the nude male form. The figure is depicted against a dark background, with light falling dramatically on its musculature. This study in light and shadow is characteristic of Chase's work, which often depicted figures in a realistic and often intimate manner. This piece, though a depiction of religious subject matter, is a prime example of Chase's interest in human anatomy and the beauty of the human form.