The Ognissanti Crucifix, c. 1315, hangs in the chiesa di Ognissanti, or the Church of All Saints, in Florence, Italy. A seven year project, painstaking cleaning and removing of grime and candle smoke, was completed in 2010. Individual brush strokes were revealed as well as intense colors, including expensive lapis lazuli, together with infrared photography and X rays, helped confirm the crucifix was in fact painted by Giotto di Bondone (c.1267-1337).

The crucifix, painted on wood with egg tempera, is approximately 15 feet high and resides in the left transept of the Church. The Virgin Mary is depicted on the left side of the crucifix, St. John the Evangelist on the right, and Christ Pantocrator can be seen at the top. Giotto’s portrayal of a suffering Christ, rather than stylized, changed the focus to a more naturalistic and human expression. Also notice the pain and anguish of the Virgin Mary and St. John. This portrayal of human emotion, the use of perspective and shading, and a more naturalistic style all helped give birth to the Italian Renaissance approximately 100 years later.