The Death Of Sarpedon

6 Pages 1405 Words

The Death of Sarpedon and Roger van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross are works of art that come from two vastly different time periods and cultures. Yet, these pieces are very similar in many ways. A formal comparison reveals the differences and similarities of form and style in The Death of Sarpedon and Descent from the Cross.
The Death of Sarpedon is a scene depicted on a large Greek vase that was made in the sixth century B.C. The scene with Sarpedon is shown within a band of gold leafing and design that circumscribes the vase. Sarpedon was a Greek warrior in the Trojan War. He was killed in battle and the vase shows two soldiers fighting over his corpse, one from the Trojan camp who wants to mutilate it, and one from the Greek camp who wishes to save it for proper burial. The god Hermes stands over the body of Sarpedon, looking down on the scene. Though I have not seen any other artistic depictions of Sarpedon’s death, there may well be others who treat this subject differently.
Van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross is an early Netherlandish painting from 1435 that illustrates the crucified Jesus being taken down from the cross. Other biblical-historical figures are included in the scene, some who were really there and some who were not. Mary Magdalene stands mourning on the right. Mary Mother of Christ has fainted across the front of the painting, while St. John the Evangelist who was clearly not there, stands on the left to catch her (too bad for Mary). The men taking Jesus down from the cross are likely the donors who commissioned the painting from van der Weyden. This subject is one of the most frequently explored in Christian art, as it shows one of the seminal acts of the early Christian community. Van der Weyden’s Deposition is very different from many others but also similar to many as well. Additionally, the two works are similar to each other already since both depict a dead man being carri...