The Crucifixion 1796 - 1797

Benjamin West produced this sketch, "The Crucifixion," during a time when religious art served as a powerful tool for both spiritual contemplation and social commentary. The image is a scene from the New Testament, but the cultural context in which West created the artwork is crucial to our understanding of its meaning. This sketch was made in England, where institutions like the Royal Academy, of which West was a founding member, shaped artistic production by setting standards of style and subject matter. West's composition adheres to established visual codes for religious art. Yet, the sketch also implicitly comments on the religious and social structures of its time. Understanding West's "Crucifixion" requires us to delve into its cultural and institutional history, examining sources such as sermons, theological debates, and the records of artistic academies. Only then can we fully grasp the social meanings embedded within it.