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Descent from the Cross

Follower of Jean Goujon French
After a composition by Marcantonio Raimondi Italian
ca. 1555
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 544
Against a distant view of Jerusalem, Christ’s body is lowered into the arms of Saint John the Evangelist under the anguished gaze of Mary Magdalen, who kneels at the foot of the cross. On the left, one of the other Maries supports the swooning Virgin. Although the composition was based on an engraving by the Bolognese printmaker Marcantonio Raimondi (ca. 1480–before 1534), the figures’ thin draperies, elongated silhouettes, and Grecian profiles reflect the influence of the court artist Jean Goujon.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Descent from the Cross
  • Artist: Follower of Jean Goujon (French, ca. 1510–ca. 1565 Bologna (?))
  • Artist: After a composition by Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, Argini (?) ca. 1480–before 1534 Bologna (?))
  • Date: ca. 1555
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Alabaster with traces of gilding
  • Dimensions: 43 1/4 × 24 1/2 × 3 1/4 in. (109.9 × 62.2 × 8.3 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.56
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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