The Descent from the Cross or Deposition, is the 13th Station of the Cross and represents the act of taking Christ down after his crucifixion.

According to the Gospels, an undefined number of women as watching the crucifixion, including the Three Marys (Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and Mary Salome (the younger sister of Jesus mother)). These and further women and unnamed male helpers are often represented in this popular altarpiece.

While there is much in this image that is revolutionary for the traditional viewer, I only did a few changes considering the classic approach of this subject, witch can be described by the word: Contemporary. Works by Rosso Fiorentino, Rogier van der Weyden, Rubens and Rembrandt inspired the composition and the classic look of my version.

But let's see what's going on:

The key for this image is: - "Forgiveness of sin and ultimately the gift of eternal life are available only through suffering and sacrifice".

So, I put a model doing piercing suspension - pure flesh and blood like the man son of God - representing Christ's suffer and sacrifice of Himself to save us from the sin that entered the world through the very first man, named Adam. At the left side, dressed with a blue veil, is Virgin Mary taking the hand of Jesus like She always did whenever He needed help. The Blessed Virgin is peaceful in a perfect harmony with God. Mary Magdalene is on her knees. She's kissing Jesus feet while swearing eternal love and respect for her dead lover, an evidence that true love it's only perceptible at the hardest moments. The woman at the right, Mary Salome, representing all of us, can't contain her anger and she wants revenge. Fortunately she is a woman and women have the deepest feelings of all and are capable of forgiveness. Several men from the civil protection (two firemen and two red cross men) are taking Christ down from the cross. One of the Red Cross Man is talking to a helicopter, by the radio, giving the precise coordinates of the place. At right side, a man all in black and almost blended with the background is going down the stairs. His job is to nail people on the cross and control that they stay there until are finished. He represents the man's justice. His work is done, so he is going home to join with his beloved family. Everyone is suffering except this man.

Composition is based on a main triangle, an allusion to the holly trinity. You can find perpendicular lines and repetitions all over the place relative to this big shape. The one God exists in three Persons and one substance, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Geometrically speaking, the best way I found to represent God is with a triangle.