The Crucifixion 1317

Giotto painted this Crucifixion, measuring 223 by 164 centimeters, in Italy during the late medieval period. This artwork is rich in visual codes and historical associations which invite us to consider the public role of religious imagery. Painted on a wooden support, this crucifix served a devotional and didactic purpose, especially for those who were illiterate. The depiction of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other figures is not simply a recounting of a Biblical event, it is a cultural artifact that reflects the religious sentiments of its time. How does it comment on the social structures of its time? It validates the institution of the Church as a divine authority, and the economic structures that supported that. The use of gold leaf and precious pigments would have been understood as both a symbol of divine majesty but also a display of the Church's wealth and power. As historians, we need to examine not only the artistic techniques but also the social, economic, and religious context in which Giotto was working, consulting archival documents, theological treatises, and contemporary accounts to fully appreciate the meaning of this artwork.