The Crucifixion with the Converted Centurion
1538
Lucas Cranach the Elder delivers a dramatic Reformation-era twist on the classic Crucifixion scene by focusing on the Roman centurion below. Clad in intricate armor and sitting atop a rearing white horse, the soldier points upward in sudden awe, his gesture marking the moment of his conversion as he realizes Christ's divinity. The German text at the top, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,' highlights Cranach's close ties to Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. The dark, stormy sky behind Christ contrasts sharply with the clear blue horizon, symbolizing the shift from death to hope.
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