The Descent from the Cross c. 1485

Bernardino Butinone painted this panel, ‘The Descent from the Cross’, around 1500. The most powerful symbol is the cross itself, a brutal instrument of death transformed into an emblem of sacrifice and redemption. The cross appears throughout history, from ancient pagan symbols to its central place in Christian iconography. Note the figure of Mary Magdalene, her arms thrown wide in anguish; this gesture echoes the poses of ancient maenads, women in ecstatic, Dionysian rites. The motif is found in depictions of mourning across cultures, illustrating a primal response to loss. The repetition of this gesture throughout art history speaks to its deep roots in the collective psyche. Consider the emotional intensity captured in the arrangement of figures and their gestures, which convey profound grief. These emotional displays tap into our shared human experience, evoking empathy and recognition. The symbols in this work are not static; they evolve, carrying layers of meaning across time and cultures.