Man of Sorrow 1468

Carlo Crivelli painted this ‘Man of Sorrow’ panel, measuring 51 by 28 centimeters, during the Italian Renaissance. The triangular composition and the somber hues of the painting evoke a deep sense of pathos. Crivelli employs a formal structure where the figure of Christ is rigidly positioned. The wounds, halo, and crown of thorns are rendered with meticulous detail. This emphasis on detail reflects a late medieval aesthetic, where religious art served didactic purposes. We see the figure of Christ as both divine and profoundly human. Crivelli uses symbolic elements like the INRI inscription and the instruments of crucifixion to create a semiotic framework that invites contemplation on sacrifice, redemption, and the embodied suffering of Christ. The formal arrangement, where the figure is centrally located, can be considered a site of ongoing contemplation on human and divine suffering. The artist uses visual language and structure to explore complex theological and emotional territory.