Descent from the Cross, left hand panel from the Deposition Diptych 1494

"Descent from the Cross", painted by Hans Memling in 1494, is part of a diptych, depicting the moment when Christ is taken down from the cross. The left panel depicts a man, likely Joseph of Arimathea, supporting the body of Christ while a second man, perhaps Nicodemus, helps to lower him from the cross. This oil painting, with its focus on the intimate moment of the descent, is a powerful depiction of Christian faith and sacrifice. The artist, Memling, was a prominent figure in the Early Netherlandish painting tradition, and his work is known for its detailed realism and devotional intensity.