Rosso Fiorentino’s Deposition from the Cross

Rosso Fiorentino’s name may not be as well-recognized as those of other Italian Renaissance painters, but when you visit Volterra’s Civic Museum, you’ll wonder why. There, you’ll find his stunning Deposition from the Cross, which depicts Christ being brought down from the Cross after his crucifixion. Fiorentino’s emotional intensity, use of bright, almost artificial colors, and exaggeration, drama, and liveliness all show the painter as a pioneer of an important new style called Mannerism. For all those qualities, this is one of my favorite paintings—and when you listen and learn more about it, maybe it’ll be one of your favorites, too.