Christ Crucified
ca 1646
Alonso Cano, a master of the Spanish Baroque who was equally skilled as a sculptor, brings a striking sculptural quality to this depiction of Christ. Notice the incredibly pale, elongated body that seems to glow against the brooding, dark sky—a classic use of dramatic lighting to heighten the emotional impact. The white loincloth billows as if caught in a sudden wind, adding a sense of movement to the solemn scene, while the skull at the base references Golgotha. Cano’s background in sculpture really shows here; Christ's body looks almost like a carved wooden statue brought to life on canvas.
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