Crucifixion

Christ hangs on the cross in this 1426 Crucifixion panel at the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples, the crowning element of the Pisa Altarpiece. The Crucifixion formed the pinnacle of the altarpiece"s multi-tiered structure, its triangular shape fitting the gabled top of the frame. Masaccio"s treatment breaks with the decorative, patterned crucifixions of Gothic art, presenting Christ"s suffering with a naturalistic intensity that anticipates the emotional directness of later Renaissance painting.

Christ"s body hangs with convincing weight from the cross, the anatomy rendered with understanding of how gravity affects a suspended figure—the arms pulled taut, the torso compressed, the head fallen forward. This anatomical naturalism, unprecedented in 1426, shows Masaccio"s commitment to observed reality over artistic convention. The gold ground of the triangular panel creates a dramatic contrast with the naturalistic figures. The Magdalene, shown from behind with arms flung wide, creates a powerful emotional gesture at the foot of the cross.