Gekruisigde Christus met drie engelen 1501 - 1580

Giulio Bonasone made this engraving, "Crucified Christ with Three Angels," sometime in the 16th century. During this period in Europe, religious art was used as a powerful tool, not only to teach biblical stories, but to reinforce certain social values and power structures. In Bonasone's print, Christ is surrounded by angels who collect his blood in chalices; this motif emphasizes Christ's sacrifice and the sacrament of the Eucharist. The landscape in the background grounds the crucifixion in a specific place, while the skull at the foot of the cross is a memento mori, a reminder of death's inevitability. The artist reinforces traditional interpretations of the crucifixion. However, Bonasone's emphasis on Christ's suffering and the angels' tender ministrations also evokes a sense of personal connection. As viewers, we are invited to contemplate not only the theological implications of the crucifixion but also its profound emotional and human dimensions.