The Descent from the Cross, from The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through the Life and Passion of Christ

Art Historical Context

In the early 16th century, Albrecht Altdorfer, a pioneering artist of the German Renaissance and leader of the Danube School, this delicate woodcut as part of his series *The Fall and Salvation ofankind Through the Life and of Christ*. Dated around 1513, *The Descent from the Cross captures a pivotal moment from the Passion narrative: Christ's body being tenderly lowered from the crucifixion ladder by grieving figures, including Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. At just 2 7/8 × 1 7/8 inches, its intimate scale made it ideal for personal devotionals or illustrated prayer books, reflecting the era's growing demand for affordable religious prints amid the Northern Renaissance. Altdorfer's mastery of woodcut—a relief printing technique where intricate designs are carved into wood blocks—shines in the crisp lines and dramatic contrasts that convey profound emotion and spatial depth. Though best known for his luminous landscapes, here he distills biblical tragedy into a compact, expressive composition, emphasizing ladders as both literal tools and symbols of humanity's descent into sorrow and redemption. This print, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1918), exemplifies how woodcuts democratized art, spreading Reformation-era piety to everyday believers across Europe.

About the Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer · 1475–1538

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...