The Deposition

Ugolino di Nerio's The Deposition (c. 1324) depicts the lowering of Christ's body from the cross, a scene of profound emotional intensity that formed part of the artist's narrative cycle from the Santa Croce altarpiece. This monumental polyptych for Florence's great Franciscan church was Ugolino's most prestigious commission, establishing the Sienese painter's reputation in rival Florence. The Deposition's pathos reflects the Franciscan emphasis on Christ's suffering humanity.

Executed in egg tempera on gold ground panel, the composition arranges mourning figures around the central diagonal of Christ's body in a carefully balanced design. Ugolino's refined Sienese line captures the emotional anguish of the participants through expressive gesture and flowing drapery.