Crucifixion Triptych: The Crucifixion [central panel]

'The central panel of the completely preserved winged altarpiece depicts a crucifixion scene with many figures (also called: 'the throng' ('im Gedräng'). It is as such a pictorial type, which endeavors to illustrate the events around Christ's death as recorded in the bible particularly with regards to the participants. Numerous soldiers and men on horseback are shown beneath the three crosses of Christ and the two thieves. Many of the men on horseback have a portrait-like appearance, without actually being portraits of living people. On the left with his hand raised is the converted centurion, who testifies that Christ is the true son of God (Mk 15 39) and who appears as an independent figure in a painting by the younger Cranach in 1539 ([DE_BStGS_13255]). In the foreground on the left the women together with St John take care of the Virgin, who has collapsed; on the right in the foreground soldiers rally around and cast dice for Christ's 'seamless' robe.'

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 253]