“Crucifixion with the Virgin and Sts. Cosmas, John the Evangelist, and Peter Martyr” is a fresco painted by Fra Angelico between 1441 and 1442. This Early Renaissance religious painting is located in the Basilica di San Marco in Florence, Italy.
The artwork depicts the crucifixion of Christ, who is centrally placed on the cross, suffering with a crowned head slightly inclined. His body, partly covered with a loincloth, displays signs of torment and sacrifice. Below the cross, a skull, a traditional symbol of Golgotha, prominently rests on the ground. Surrounding Christ, the Virgin Mary is positioned to the left, her hands raised prayerfully and her expression embodying sorrow and piety. Adjacent to her, Saint Cosmas mirrors her posture. To the right of Christ stand St. John the Evangelist, displaying a somber devotion, and St. Peter Martyr, marked by his Dominican attire. The background, rendered in a deep blue, contrasts profoundly with the other elements, intensifying the scene’s emotional gravity and divine significance. The composition, imbued with spiritual solemnity, reflects Fra Angelico’s masterful use of color, form, and religious iconography characteristic of the Early Renaissance period.
