Crucifixion; Spain, 16th century.

Crucifixion; Spain, XVI century.
Bronze.
Remains of gilding.
The cross is from a later period.
Measurements: 21 x 20,5 x 4 cm; 41,5 x 30 x 1 cm.
This episode of the life of Christ is the most strictly proven as historical fact and it is also the main argument of the redemption of the Christian doctrine: the blood of God incarnated as man is shed for the redemption of all sins. The representation of the crucifixion has undergone an evolution parallel to the liturgical and theological variations of the Catholic doctrine in which we want to point out three milestones: at the beginning the paleochristian art omitted the representation of the human figure of Christ and the crucifixion was represented by means of the "Agnus Dei", the mystical lamb carrying the cross of martyrdom. Until the eleventh century Christ is represented crucified but alive and triumphant, with his eyes open, according to the Byzantine rite that does not consider the possibility of the existence of the corpse of Christ. Later, under the theological consideration that the death of the Savior is not due to an organic process but to an act of divine will, Christ is represented, as in our work, already dead with his eyes closed and his head fallen on his right shoulder, showing the sufferings of the passion, provoking commiseration, as it is referred to in Psalm 22 when he prays: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (...) a mob of the wicked is near me: they have pierced my hands and my feet (...) they have divided my garments and cast lots for my tunic".