Deposition From The Cross

Considered by many scholars to be Rosso Fiorentino's greatest work this altarpiece is an intense study in color, composition and raw emotion that marked a new era in Mannerism. It is located in the Pinacoteca Comunale di Volterra. Although Rosso painted another version six years later, the Volterra work holds the attention of scholars and art lovers with its unique ability to capture the anguish of an historic moment.

Deposition from the Cross depicts the moment, recounted in the gospel, when the followers of Christ remove His body from the Crucifix. The cast of characters involved includes Joseph of Arimathea (the man with the grey beard), Nicodemus (reaching out to support the body), St. John the Evangelist (the red-headed man stooped in grief), the Virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene (at the bottom throwing herself at Mary's feet).