Painting by Fra Angelico
The Deposition from the Cross is a painting of the Deposition of Christ by the Italian Renaissance master Fra Angelico, executed between 1432 and 1434. It is now housed in the National Museum of San Marco, Florence.
Giorgio Vasari described it as appearing to have been "painted by a saint or an angel".
Angelico intervened to complete this altarpiece when it had been already begun by Lorenzo Monaco for the Strozzi Chapel in the Florentine church of Santa Trinita. It portrays Christ supported by several people, with Mary Magdalene kissing his feet, as a symbol of human repentance. A figure on the right, with a red hat, is showing the cross's nails and the crown of thorns, symbols of passion and sacrifice.
Mary, wearing a dark dress, is shown in the traditional gesture of keeping hands joined.