Christ on the Cross by Carl Bloch, Fine Art Notebook

Christ on the Cross by Carl Bloch (Danish, 1834-1890) Just as he suffered alone, Christ is solitarily placed against the ominous sky looming above him. Being the focal point of the piece, his lifeless body brings the eye down to the mournful scene below him. Mary Magdalene consoles his mother while John the Beloved sits grieving in disbelief of the death of his friend and Master. Carl Bloch created over 250 paintings that manifest his keen powers of observation, his ability to transform both common and sacred subjects into compelling stories full of humanity, and his deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ—which seemed to be a natural offspring of his gentle and introspective temperament. Bloch considered his religious works to be his greatest artistic contribution.