The Crucifixion Gm-00024501

Antoine Coypel (French, 1661–1722) And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised . (Matthew 27: 51-52)

Choosing to represent the dramatic moment Christ died on the cross, Antoine Coypel used strong contours, thick, parallel hatching, and judicious applications of white heightening to give this drawing power. His fluid white accents create the lightning implied in the biblical passage, providing a supernatural spotlight on the crosses and Christ's stricken followers.