The artwork, “Crucifixion with St. Dominic,” was created by Fra Angelico between 1440 and 1445. Executed in fresco on a wall, this piece belongs to the Early Renaissance art movement and is classified as a religious painting. Presently, it is housed in the Louvre in Paris, France.
The artwork captures the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a central event in Christian theology, with St. Dominic prominently featured. Christ is shown crucified, his body leaning slightly forward as if succumbing to the weight of his suffering, with a halo encircling his head, adding an ethereal glow. Above Jesus, the sign “INRI” is inscribed, an acronym for “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum” (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). Below the cross, St. Dominic is depicted kneeling in devout prayer, his hands clasped, possibly both in reverence and supplication. To the left, the Virgin Mary is seen standing, overcome with sorrow, draped in a purple robe, indicative of mourning. On the right, another haloed figure, presumably St. John the Evangelist, gazes upwards in contemplation and anguish, his vibrant red and green robes contrasting against the dark background. The solemn expressions and the pain conveyed through their body language emphasize the moment’s gravity. The dark, somber backdrop serves to bring forward the figures, conferring a profound spiritual ambience to the scene.
