The Descent from the Cross Triptych and Its Characters
Created by the Flemish painter Ambrosius Benson between 1532 and 1536, this is considered one of his most significant works
ReadTriptych of the Descent from the Cross (Around 1536) by Ambrosius BensonThe Cathedral of Segovia
Dated between 1532 and 1536, The Descent from the Cross Triptych is a key piece in the work of Ambrosius Benson. This masterpiece of Flemish art is displayed in the Painting Hall under the Cloister of the Segovia Cathedral.
Who is depicted in this scene?
After dying on the cross, Christ's body is taken to the tomb. In this depiction, ten figures accompany the scene, each with a specific role and a personal connection to the Lord.
Virgin Mary
The dynamism of Ambrosius Benson's work is evident in the figure of Jesus' mother, who, with arms outstretched, swoons at the sight of her lifeless son.
Saint John
In the scene, saint John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, supports the Virgin Mary. His tears reveal a grief that is shared by the other figures depicted in this central part of the triptych.
Mary Salome
Mother of the apostles James the Greater and John the Evangelist, she was also a faithful follower of Jesus. Her gaze expresses deep sorrow, and her presence is a reminder of the fidelity and love of women toward Jesus. She is mentioned alongside Mary Cleophas as one of the holy women.
Mary Cleophas
Disciple of Jesus and mother of Jude Thaddeus, James the Less, Simon, and Joseph, she was present at Calvary and at Jesus' burial. She was also one of the first to see him after his resurrection.
Nicodemus
Nicodemus was an influential pharisee (a member of a Jewish sect) who befriended Jesus, defended him when he was imprisoned, and accompanied him at the burial. Here, he is shown helping Joseph of Arimathea lower Jesus' body from the cross.
Joseph of Arimathea
He was a disciple of Jesus, although he kept it hidden because he was a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin. He asked Pilate for permission to take the body. Generally, the lifeless bodies of the condemned were left on the cross by the Romans to be displayed as a public humiliation.
King Moulay Hasan?
The figure in the foreground, who places his right hand on his chest, could be the king of Tunis, Moulay Hasan, who had been dethroned by Barbarossa. Charles V managed to reclaim the territory and restore Hasan to the throne around the time this work was created.
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was the first witness of Jesus' resurrection. A devoted disciple and close friend of Jesus during his ministry, she was one of the few people who stayed with Him during his agony on the cross.
Archangel saint Michael
In the right panel of the triptych, Archangel saint Michael is depicted as the defender of good against evil.
He tramples the demon and weighs the souls of the deceased in the Last Judgment.
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Anthony of Padua, a franciscan and Doctor of the Church, occupies the left wing of the triptych. He holds a cross and the Child Jesus, who holds a flower, a symbol of the saint, over a book with his left hand. This alludes to the mystical moment when the saint experienced a vision of the Child while praying.
Promoted by: Chapter of Segovia Cathedral
Direction and texts: Adolfo Rubio Pascual-Muerte
Images: Segovia Cathedral
