A pale, nearly naked figure of Jesus Christ hangs on the central cross, his head thrown back and mouth open in an expression of agony, with blood streaming from wounds in his hands and feet. To either side, two muscular men are crucified as well, their bodies twisted in pain; the man on the left slumps forward, while the one to the right arches his torso and turns his head away. At the foot of the central cross, a woman with long, loose hair—identified as Mary Magdalene—clings to Jesus’ feet, her face turned upward in anguish as she grasps his legs.

To the left, another woman in a blue cloak reaches out with both arms towards Christ, her expression filled with grief. A Roman soldier in gleaming armor kneels at the lower right, looking up and shielding his eyes, while another figure stands behind him, half lost in shadow. The background is dark and stormy, with a muted landscape and distant hills barely visible beneath heavy clouds.

Strong light falls on the bodies of the crucified, illuminating their flesh with a dramatic contrast against the somber surroundings, while deep shadows gather in the folds of drapery and the armor’s reflections. The brushwork is energetic and loose, especially in the swirling clouds and the textures of hair and skin, giving the scene a sense of movement and emotional intensity. Touches of vivid red mark the wounds and the Magdalene’s lips, while creamy whites and ochres model the figures’ bodies, set against earth tones and the dark blue of the garments.

The composition centers on the vertical axis of Christ’s body, with the other figures arranged in a dynamic triangle around the base of the cross, guiding the viewer’s attention upward. Small details, such as the nails piercing the feet and hands, the twisted ropes, and the glint of metal on the soldier’s armor, add to the realism and drama of the scene. Christ crucified between two robbers is painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1635. The subject is the crucifixion of Jesus, depicted with Mary Magdalene and a Roman soldier, as well as the two robbers who share his fate.

The work was photographed on 26 November 2017.