Martin Schongauer
German, c. 1445-1491
The Crucifixion with Four Angels, c. 1475-80
Engraving

Weighty resignation appears in the faces of the dying Jesus, his mother Mary, and his beloved disciple John. The orderly landscape is calm, underscoring the solemnity of Christ's sacrifice. Stirring this serenity, Schongauer depicts four small angles holding chalices under each of Christ's wounds. The energy fluttering through their long robes and wings accentuates their presence. As understood in late medieval devotion, angels collecting the Redeemer's blood emphasizes the sacrificial nature of the Crucifixion. These chalices also illustrate a connection to humanity, visualizing the belief of Christ’s blood as a source of salvation, shared by all in Eucharist. This superb impression, which once belonged to the British Museum in London, is 550 years old. Think of this fragile sheet of paper making its way through time, through the centuries, to us!