The Descent from the Cross

Ludwig of Ulm

Associated Names
Ludwig of Ulm

Artist, German, active 1450/1470

This is a painting of a religious scene depicting a crucifixion. The painting illustrates the figure on the cross being embraced tenderly by an individual standing on a ladder, set against a sparse background. Three figures with halo-like attributes sit or kneel beneath, with expressions of grief and piety, while the figure on the ladder appears to be assisting the central figure. This is in the style of medieval religious woodcuts. The use of flat colors and clear outlines, typical of the period, creates a solemn and impactful depiction of the scene.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    hand-colored woodcut (blockbook page)

  • Credit Line

    Andrew W. Mellon Fund

  • Dimensions

    Overall: 11.1 x 8 cm (4 3/8 x 3 1/8 in.)
    overall (external frame dimensions): 59.7 x 44.5 cm (23 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1968.18.6

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2005

  • Origins of European Printmaking: Fifteenth-Century Woodcuts and Their Public, NGA and Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, 2005-2006, no. 64f, repro.

Watermarks

none visible

Wikidata ID

Q65511088

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