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Christ is stretched on the cross on which he is to be crucified -- he looks straight at us to invite our sympathy. At his feet, two soldiers haul on ropes to pull his legs straight as another hammers an iron nail into his feet. A fourth knocks a nail into his right hand.His pale skin and nakedness emphasise Christ's vulnerability, and David has painted his body with great care: the thin covering of flesh on his distorted chest, the blue veins and taut sinews in his arms and the contorted fingers of his left hand all convey his terrible pain. His face is red, and he seems to be gritting his teeth.This was once the central panel of a triptych (a painting in three parts). The outer wings are owned by the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Christ Nailed to the Cross

Date

about 1481

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 48.4 x W 93.9 cm

Accession number

NG3067

Acquisition method

Layard Bequest, 1916

Work type

Painting

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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Artist or maker

Gerard David

c.1460–1523

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