Page containing a reproduction of The Descent from the Cross by Rubens
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Object number2019.03502.01.04
TitlePage containing a reproduction of The Descent from the Cross by Rubens
Creator Edward West
DescriptionThis page contains a hand drawn and illustrated reproduction of The Descent from the Cross by Paul Rubens. The painting is housed in the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp. Edward West spent lots of time in Antwerp, so will have had opportunity to study the picture itself. Rubens painted this event several times in his life, this particular painting was produced between 1612-1614.
The reproduction is similar to the painting itself, however there are some notable additions and ommissions made by West:
In the original painting, at the foot of the ladder there is a bowl containing the crown of thorns, the 'Holy Sponge' and the sign 'Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews', of which parts of the Hebrew, Latin and Greek are visible. In West's reproduction, these objects have been removed entirely except the sign, which has been positioned at the head of the cross.
Unlike the original painting by Rubens, or any of the triptych which it is a part of, West has opted to portray Jesus and Mary with halos.
Most likely due to space constraints, West has also positioned Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene all slightly out of the frame he has drawn.
Finally, there are some difference in the colours used by West and the original by Rubens, particularly in the two figures directly above and below Jesus. Though it is possible that this was an artistic decision, West likely just did not have access to the same range of colours that Rubens did.
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Pages are accessioned individually.
Production date 1913 - 1965
Object namesketchbook
Object categoryart, personal record
Materialpaper
Techniquedrawn
Dimensions
- height: 120 mm
width: 180 mm