Crucifixion with Mary Magdalene Kneeling and Weeping 1832

Francesco Hayez's 1832 painting, "Crucifixion with Mary Magdalene Kneeling and Weeping", depicts a dramatic scene of the crucifixion of Christ. The central figure of Jesus Christ is realistically portrayed, his body contorted in agony on the cross against a dark, stormy sky. Mary Magdalene kneels at the foot of the cross, her face contorted in grief as she weeps for Jesus. Hayez's detailed depiction of the figures, the stark contrast between light and dark, and the realistic depiction of the crucifixion create a powerful and moving image that is typical of 19th-century Italian Romanticism.