Crucifixion by Barnaba da Modena - Essay Example

Artwork Analysis Crucifixion Artist: Barnaba da Modena Crucifixion by Barnaba da Modena1 Artwork Analysis ‘Crucifixion’ by Barnaba da Modena, from Milanese family (www.nationalgallaery.org.uk), is a famous New Testament artwork. Modena finished his work on this painting in about 1375. The materials he used were tempera and gold. The craft that stands out is it’s not in a cloth canvas; the gold and tempera work is done on wood. Dimensions are in 41 x 26 ½ in. and it sits in modern museums through the credit line of James E.

Roberts Fund. Formal Analysis As the title of the painting, ‘Crucifixion’, suggests, it is Jesus Christ’s crucifixion painted on wood by the 14th century artist Barnaba da Modena. The picture is quite compact; a great number of people are shown within a small space. However, their features are prominent and it their expressions are quite animated. The phrase ‘incongruity of scale’ best describes the play of proportionality in this painting. The golden color dominates the whole painting and gives a more indoor look to the whole crucifixion scenario.

Despite gold being the dominant color, the use of red color is done to highlight specific aspects of the painting. Other than the red color from the blood pouring out of the body of Christ, the board right on top of the cross is also painted in red and at the center, right at the foot of Jesus, Magdalene is also wearing red robes, which certainly becomes the second thing (if not the first) to observe for the viewer. Golden color is also apparent in the frame of the painting. On the wood it gives more prominence to gold; with the black rocks in the background and wooden cross, the gold color shines brightly in the whole painting.

Critical Interpretation The overall mood of the crucifixion is gloomy but here is where the true beauty of the artwork lies. Jesus is on cross, with blood pouring from the nails driven in his feet and hands but the golden color that dominates and almost engulfs the whole painting represents heaven or the light from heaven. This probably indicates the rewards of the afterlife. Red in this painting is nothing but pain. The red robes of the mourning Magdalene, the blood gushing out of Jesus’s foot and the red color of the flag (soldier’s banner), and the sign on top of Christ, indicate pain, torture and sadness.

But right above all these ‘red’ elements, the golden color gives hope in the afterlife. Modena made this art piece as a series of antitheses to portray the pagan Rome vs. the celestial Christ. The depiction is quite clear as a demon snatches out the soul of the bad thief to Christ’s left side and on the right, two angels carry the soul of the good thief in robes with care and tenderness. Critical Judgment This piece was constructed in the 14th century and the depictions in the painting give the impression that the elements are from the New Testament.

The soldiers gamble for Christ’s robe and the Virgin is swoons while attended by four devotees. There is also a confrontation shown as S.P.Q.R (Senate and people of Rome) antagonizes I.N.R.I on top of Jesus’s head. The artist is definitely successful in conveying his interpretation of the New Testament. Although the architectural setting is quite plain and simple (www.all-art.org), but there probably isn’t anything that could have made it more effective. Adding more elements to emphasize the gospel would make the art more compact which it can’t afford.

The heavenly dominance over betrayal and humiliation of Christ is what Modena tried to achieve and is rightly successful. Sources "Barnaba Da Modena." The National Gallery, London: Western European Painting 1250–1900. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. . "Crucifixion | Indianapolis Museum of Art." Crucifixion | Indianapolis Museum of Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. . "History of Art: Gothic Art-Barnaba Da Modena." History of Art: Gothic Art-Barnaba Da Modena. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. .