Descent from the Cross 1550 - 1560

This marble relief, 'Descent from the Cross,' was carved by Jean Goujon in the 16th century. The most striking image, of course, is Christ’s limp body being lowered from the cross, a scene laden with grief, sacrifice, and redemption. Consider the ladder. It reappears throughout art history as a potent symbol. We see it, for instance, in ancient Egyptian art as a means for the pharaoh to ascend to the heavens. Here, it’s repurposed as a tool for tenderly bringing Christ's body down to earth. This act of lowering is not just physical; it’s a symbolic grounding, a necessary step before resurrection. Observe Mary Magdalene, kneeling at the foot of the cross, her posture echoing centuries of lamentation. This collective expression of grief taps into a primal well of human emotion. The symbols here are not static; they are dynamic carriers of cultural memory, constantly evolving and re-emerging, connecting us to a deeper understanding of human experience.