Crucifixion by Ugolino 1315
Crucifixion by Ugolino, 1315
Famous in Florence and Siena, Ugolino was a close follower of Duccio, from whom he learned his remarkable sense of color, and his expressive use of gesture to convey emotion. In this panel, Christ hangs upon the cross with a graceful yet sorrowful curve of the body, his long, elegant limbs characteristic of the Sienese style. The Virgin stands to the left, her face drawn in grief, while Saint John the Evangelist appears on the right, his hands lifted in a gesture of anguish. Below them, Saint Francis and Saint Clare are included in devotion, emphasizing that this image was made for a Franciscan friar, nun, or another member of the Franciscan family. The figures are arranged in a narrow, vertical composition that focuses the viewer’s attention upward toward Christ’s serene yet tragic expression.
The background of gold — once radiant — has now partially deteriorated, though traces of its brilliance still frame the figures in an otherworldly light. The surface shows evidence of age and restoration, including the partial reconstruction of Christ’s head. Despite this, the emotional intensity remains vivid: the sorrowful gazes, the refined linework of drapery, and the soft interplay of color and shadow all work together to create a quiet but deeply moving scene of devotion. (Tempera on wood, 1315.)
This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.
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