The Crucifixion

Monogrammist IM

ca. 1480 · Tempera on parchment · Robert Lehman Collection

The monogram painted in gold in the lower right hand corner—an "I" superimposed on an "M"—has yet to be associated with any known artist. Both the composition and figure types are clearly influenced by the painting of Rogier van der Weyden, but the pale color palette is closer to that of Southern Netherlandish artists such as Joos van Gent and Hugo van der Goes. The souls of the thieves crucified with Christ are depicted above and below the cross (the soul of the good thief is held by an angel, while that of the bad thief is dragged down by a demon); this detail alludes to the Last Judgment and its inclusion here may be influenced by German depictions of the subject.

Artist

Monogrammist IM

Date

ca. 1480

Medium

Tempera on parchment

Culture

Southern Netherlandish,

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975