Christ on the Cross (c.1615) by Cecco del Caravaggio (Francesco Buoneri) We recently visited the Met in New York City for the first time, where this powerful piece is on display. It’s housed in a glass case that allows you to view both sides, though I wasn’t able to capture a good photo due to glare; so I’ve used the image from the museum’s website. What Cecco accomplished with this cross-shaped piece of wood is truly remarkable. The excruciating detail in Christ’s face and body; his agony, his struggle to breathe, his upward gaze toward God feels even more intense and visceral because it’s rendered on an actual wooden cross, not simply painted on canvas. It brings the suffering to life in a hauntingly tangible way. The details on the back of the cross continue this intense naturalism as we see the blood running through the nails in his hands as well as part of his body that is off the side of the cross.

This is only the second work by Cecco del Caravaggio that we’ve witnessed first hand, the other being @artinstitutechi and both are truly exceptional.