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| Annunziata Polyptych - Deposition from the Cross | |
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| Artist | Filippino Lippi andPietro Perugino |
| Year | 1504–1507 |
| Medium | Oil on panel |
| Dimensions | 334 cm × 225 cm (131 in × 89 in) |
| Location | Galleria dell’Accademia,Florence |
TheAnnunziata Polyptych is a painting cycle started byFilippino Lippi and finished byPietro Perugino, whose central panel is now divided between theGalleria dell'Accademia (Deposition from the Cross) and theBasilica dell'Annunziata, both inFlorence, Italy. The polyptych had other six panels, which are housed in theLindenau-Museum ofAltenburg, theMetropolitan Museum ofNew York City, theGalleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Rome and in a private collection in South Africa.
The work was originally commissioned to Filippino Lippi for the high altar of the Annunziata Basilica in Florence. Lippi had already ceded the same commission toLeonardo da Vinci, who had executed a cartoon withSt. Anne, the Virgin and the Child, before abandoning the work when he followedCesare Borgia (1502). The work was thus reassigned to Lippi, who changed completely the theme. At his death in 1504 the painting, already completed in the central part, was assigned toPietro Perugino, who completed it, including the secondary panels, in 1507.
Once finished, the painting was sharply criticized by the Florentines, due to the alleged lack of originality of the composition. At the time, Perugino was often re-using the same cartoons, due to big number of commissions. TheAnnunciationaltarpiece was thus Perugino's last work in Florence.
The work was originally painted on two sides: theAssumption of the Virgin facing the faithful, and theDeposition from the Cross facing the choir. After the panel was split in two, the latter was moved in theGrand Duke's collections, and then to the Gallerie dell'Accademia; theAssumption remained in the church, and was later moved to the Rabatta Chapel. The polyptych had a frame designed byBaccio d'Agnolo.
TheDeposition shows the moment in which Jesus Christ is taken down from the cross after his death. Four men are carrying out the task by using ladders. On the ground, at the left, is the Virgin, fainting in theSwoon of the Virgin, and supported by the other Pious Women. The person praying at the foot of the cross isMary Magdalene, regarding reverently the feet that she had so recently washed and anointed. On the right, caught in a surprised posture, is St. John the Apostle; in front of him, on the ground, are the nails of the crucifixion. It could also be that he is advising the men to be careful with their task, to handle the body of the Lord with ultimate care.
According toGiorgio Vasari, Lippi executed the upper part of the painting. Jesus, left unfinished, was completed by Perugino concerning the face. The latter also painted the lower part of the work, characterized by his typical serene faces and the distant landscape. Perugino's assistants painted a great number of details, especially in the side panels.
The polyptych was completed by a predella, now divided between several American museums. It included:
Predella of theAnnunziata Polyptych
