Zurbarán's Crucifixion: A Weighty Conundrum
Letters to the Guardian respond to Charlotte Higgins's appraisal of Francisco de Zurbarán, noting that his painting The Crucified Christ, like many depictions of the scene, fails to convey the intolerable heaviness of a body hanging by nails. The correspondents—Paul McGilchrist, Jean Wilson, and Chris Keil—argue that even with a foot platform, the excruciating slump and distorting pressures on the frame are rarely shown. They acknowledge that conveying suffering is often not the artist's purpose.
Key facts
- Charlotte Higgins wrote an appraisal of Francisco de Zurbarán titled 'Simply divine: the extraordinary supernatural visions of Francisco de Zurbarán' on 30 April.
- Zurbarán's painting The Crucified Christ is discussed in letters to the Guardian.
- The letters were written by Paul McGilchrist, Jean Wilson, and Chris Keil.
- The letters argue that crucifixion depictions rarely show the body's true weight and distortion.
- The correspondents note that a foot platform is sometimes included but still fails to convey the slump.
- The letters acknowledge that conveying suffering is often not the artist's purpose.
- The source is a letter to the editor, not a standalone article.
- The publication date of the letters is 8 May 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Francisco de Zurbarán
- Charlotte Higgins
Institutions
- The Guardian