Crucifixion (tactile)

By: Rnib

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Synopsis: About 1538-1541. Black chalk. Size: 37 x 27 cm. British Museum, PD 1895-9-15-504. Michelangelo made this devotional image for his friend Vittoria Colonna. An aristocratic poet and religious reformer, she became his confidante in the mid-1530s. Unusually, Michelangelo shows the crucified Christ alive and suffering, at once human and divine. This imagery, as well as Michelangelo's late additions of the lamenting angels and a skull, may reflect Colonna's input into the design. This drawing depicts Christ on the cross with a skull at the base of the cross and 2 lamenting angels shown underneath the crossbeam of the cross. Christ is shown in detail but the angels are rather vague. The right hand is shown nailed to the cross, but the left hand looks as it is holding the nail. The right foot is over the left one, with the nail through them shown. Christ is wearing a translucent loincloth. The tactile image shows the outline of the cross with a thin line. A thicker line shows the outline of Christ with a rough texture showing muscle tone. A solid texture shows the skull, Christ's hair, loincloth and nails. Braille labels are as follows: head, right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, cross, ground level, and skull.

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