Crucifixion of Saint Andrew (Damaskinos)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Crucifixion of Saint Andrew (Greek: Σταύρωση του Αγίου Ανδρέα, Italian: Crocifissione di Sant'Andrea) is a tempera on wood painting by Greek artist Michael Damaskinos (active 1545–1593). Damaskinos worked in Heraklion, Venice, Sicily, and other parts of Italy, and was connected with the San Giorgio dei Greci church in Venice. The painting follows traditional Greek styles of its time and depicts Saint Andrew crucified upside down.

The work measures 49 cm by 40 cm (19.3 by 15.7 inches) and uses egg tempera with gold leaf on a wooden panel. It dates from the mid-16th century and is housed in the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, Greece.

In the scene, Saint Andrew is shown on an upside-down cross between two trees, sunk into the ground. He is tied with ropes around his arms and legs, and three figures fasten the cross to the trees. On the left, a helmeted figure helps tie the cross; another figure, dressed in leggings and a hat, climbs a branch to reach the top of the cross, guided by a high-ranking soldier. A soldier on the right, in a short tunic with a sword at his waist, watches. Around the trees grow small plants, and the left tree bears the painter’s signature.