Passion Altarpiece (central panel) 1455

The central panel of Dirk Bouts's *Passion Altarpiece* (1455) depicts the poignant moment of Christ's descent from the cross. This early Netherlandish painting showcases Bouts's masterful attention to detail, capturing the solemnity of the event with meticulous realism. The figures, rendered in a palette of rich reds and browns, are positioned with anatomical precision, their expressions of grief and sorrow adding to the emotional weight of the scene. Scattered on the ground are the nails and tools that were used in the crucifixion, serving as tangible reminders of Christ's suffering. The distant cityscape provides a backdrop for the drama unfolding in the foreground, grounding the scene in a specific historical context.