The painting was primarily commissioned as an alter piece, previously located in the Duomo of Volterra. Now, it is present in the town art gallery, Pinacoteca Comunale.
Giovanni Battista di Jacopo, also known as Rosso Fiorentino (Florentine Redhead) was an Italian Mannerist painter belonging to the Florentine School. Volterra Deposition formally titled ‘Deposition from the Cross’ showcases the moment where Jesus Christ was crucified. Considered to be the artists’ masterpiece, this oil on wood painting describes the agony of the well wisher surrounded near the Christ. People are seen standing next to the ladder to carry the body, women and men are struck by grief with Mother Mary being held by two other women and Mary Magdalene in bright red grabbing the legs of the Madonna. The bright colours in the art work seem to be subdued by the heavy emotions depicted in it. The bodies of the figures are a little elongated with small faces. The painting is illuminated by harsh light, focusing more on pain rather than naturalistic beauty as evident by the pale body of the Christ. The body of the Saviour is the focal point of the art piece with all the other people tightly packed. The painting, in a way seems to be divided into two complex parts. Above, it is chaotic with men hurrying to lower the corpse of Jesus, the latter section succumbed to pain. The artist has skilfully transformed emotional intensity, violence in the sacred event to rationally understand suffering.
Descent from the Cross (also known as the Deposition of Christ) is one of the most famous biblical subjects in Western art history, depicting Christ's followers removing his lifeless body from the cross.
