Deposition (detail) 1548

This detail of a Deposition scene was painted in Florence by Francesco Salviati around the mid-16th century. The image depicts the removal of Christ's body from the cross, a moment laden with grief and reverence, yet here we see an idealised male form, reminiscent of classical sculpture, being handled by anonymous figures. Salviati was working in a time of artistic and religious upheaval, and his work reflects the tensions between tradition and innovation. Florence, under the Medici, was a centre of humanist thought. The Catholic Church was dealing with the rise of the Reformation. This created a complex cultural landscape in which art was both a celebration of human potential and an expression of religious piety. The Basilica di Santa Croce, a Franciscan church, would have been a key site for viewing art of this kind. To truly understand this work, we need to consider its place within the religious, political, and institutional contexts of its time. Examining archival records of artistic patronage and theological debates helps us understand the public role of art in 16th century Florence.