The Descent from the Cross

After learning the fundamentals of drawing and painting in his native Leiden, Rembrandt van Rijn went to Amsterdam in 1624 to study for six months with Pieter Lastman (1583–1633), a famous history painter. Upon completion of his training Rembrandt returned to Leiden. Around 1632 he moved to Amsterdam, quickly establishing himself as the town’s leading artist, specializing in history paintings and portraiture. He received many commissions and attracted a number of students who came to learn his method of painting.

This Descent from the Cross, probably painted by a gifted member of Rembrandt’s workshop, evokes reverence. Light from the torch held by the man on the ladder is concentrated on only two major areas of activity: the aged Joseph of Arimathea who gently helps to lower Christ's body, and the swooning figure of the Virgin Mary. Joseph seems to present Christ to the viewer while the figures below quietly prepare to receive the body. Mary’s pale face mirrors the deathly white of her son’s body.

Although Rembrandt was undoubtedly involved in the composition and may well have blocked in forms to serve as a compositional guide, no evidence of his own brushwork exists. Just who may have been responsible for the execution is still a matter of some speculation. Nevertheless, sufficient stylistic connections can be found between this painting and works attributed to Constantijn van Renesse (1626–1680) to make a tentative attribution to this fascinating Rembrandt student. Renesse, about whom very little is known, seems to have been with Rembrandt between 1649 and 1652. Van Renesse depicted a number of large biblical scenes, many of which focused on the life of Christ. This painting was probably begun in the mid-1630s and reworked in the 1650s, at which time it was reduced in size.

Credit: Widener Collection