Descent From The Cross Analysis

Analysis of The Descent from the Cross Vincenzo, Danti’s “The Decent from the Cross” was cast in 1560. It is 44.5cm high by 47.1 cm wide, made from a blend of copper/bronze alloy commonly used for sculptures of that period which was then finished in a translucent green varnish. It is currently on display at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. The evolution of the sculpted painting into what we commonly refer to as a Relief, was the first step towards larger cast bronze sculptures and eventually architecture on a grand scale. A work like this would commonly be used in a rustic grotto or as an inlay on an altar or possibly even the doors of a church. Early bronze work like Jade was designed to be handled and accessible. It combines Art and Devotion a common theme of the Renaissance. Is Danti truly Michelangelo’s greatest follower?

A brilliant aspect of the relief is the focal
This connection is unmistakable, between a mother and her son. This type of relief tells a story as an image, which was ideal for those believers that were not literate. Stories or a narrative from the Old Testament utilized this pictorial technique of storytelling. Another interesting aspect of this relief is the frame. The gold inlay gives the piece a portal to Iconic status. It reminds me of religious icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church, yet it pre-dates them. The culture of 15th and 16th century renaissance scholars was equal passion for the beauty of classical design in all-artistic endeavors. This is evident in the columns that frame the piece, but the roughness of the over all impression of the piece contrasts the lightness of the divine. Essentially making the piece more approachable an accessible to the common