Craigie Aitchison, R.A.

Artis Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo

Albemarle Gallery, London

Acquired from above by the present owner

Monte-Carlo, Artis Monte-Carlo, Craigie Aitchison, 18 March - 25 April 1986, (as Crucifixion I)

London, Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition, 1989

London, Albemarle Gallery, no. 6 (as Crucifixion 3)

The crucifixion scene is one of Craigie Aitchison’s most recognisable subjects, where Christ is depicted amongst an empty, surreal background in non-naturalistic colours. Throughout his career, Aitchison continued to return to the Crucifixion scene- each time altering the colours, scale, landscape, position of the cross and surrounding figures, such as the inclusion of animals. The present work is a fine example of a piece from this important body of work, being on a large scale and using deep, striking colours.

Aitchison approaches the famed subject in a non-conventional manner, instead transforming the religious motif into a modern take on human suffering, solitude, and compassion. From an early age, Aitchison was strongly influenced by Italian medieval and early Renaissance painting, particularly artists such as Giotto, whose simplified figures and emotionally expressive figures can be seen to Craigie’s modern style. Here, Christ and the surrounding landscape are depicted in a purposely simplified method: reduced down to a sequence of flat, pure colour planes. It is a reflective and spiritual image of the iconic scene, rather than one of violence, resulting in a purposely aesthetic and unique take on a timeless subject.