The Descent from the Cross
Rogier van der Weyden · 1440
Why it's great
Friends gently lower Christ's body from the cross, while Mary faints in the same pose as her son. Rogier van der Weyden painted this huge, emotional picture in about 1440, and the figures are as lifelike as actors on a stage.
Where to see it
📍 Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El EscorialSan Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Rogier van der Weyden was a Flemish painter born in Tournai in about 1399. He worked in Brussels and became one of the most admired painters of Northern Europe for pictures that show deep feeling and realistic tears. He died in 1464.
