DÜRER, Albrecht
(b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg)

Crucifixion

1495-98
Woodcut, 570 x 389 mm
British Museum, London

The group of mourners standing beneath the Cross in is central construction is closely related Italian principles of composition. In this the group in question resembles the Lamentation, and both show direct influence of Italian art. The influence of Dürer's studies in Italy is also plainly seen in the single figures: the cramped movement of the thief on the left with the head falling on the drawn up shoulders and the disordered hair distinctly recalls Pollaiolo; then again the somewhat affected pose of the standing mourners makes us think of the drawings of Credi; while the St John is closely related to the art of Mantegna.. The domed building in the background is a reminiscence of St Mark's, Venice.

The woodblock consisted of two parts, one above the other. There is a difference in the quality of the technique of the cutting of the two parts. It was pointed out that the cutting cannot have been done under Dürer's direct supervision, but that Dürer delivered the drawing to a publisher while far away from Nuremberg.