The Frankfurt Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross_The Testing of the Cross (middle right) c. 1603 - 1605

"The Testing of the Cross" is a small oil painting on copper by German painter Adam Elsheimer, created between 1603 and 1605. It is part of a larger altarpiece entitled “The Frankfurt Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross" which is currently housed in the Städel Museum. The scene depicts the moment when the cross is tested for its strength. A man is laying on the cross as other figures examine its integrity and the materials it is made from. Elsheimer's attention to detail and use of light and shadow create a sense of drama and realism in this small yet powerful work.