1812 (ca.), Caspar David Friedrich, Cross in the Forest -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the museum label: A radiant cruciform cloud illuminates the air above a wayside cross decorated with a metallic sunburst. At its base is a cascade of water, a frequent symbol of the life-giving power of Christ's teachings. The surrounding greenery and wisps of blue sky underscore the sense of vitality and promise. Friedrich's precise handling of the evergreen needles, compared with the broader patches of paint in the rocks, has prompted some scholars to suggest that he may not have fully completed this picture. The artist created numerous depictions of crosses in mountains and forests in order to satisfy a growing market among the nobility and other elite patrons.
1812 (ca.), Caspar David Friedrich, Cross in the Forest -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the museum label: A radiant cruciform cloud illuminates the air above a wayside cross decorated with a metallic sunburst. At its base is a cascade of water, a frequent symbol of the life-giving power of Christ's teachings. The surrounding greenery and wisps of blue sky underscore the sense of vitality and promise. Friedrich's precise handling of the evergreen needles, compared with the broader patches of paint in the rocks, has prompted some scholars to suggest that he may not have fully completed this picture. The artist created numerous depictions of crosses in mountains and forests in order to satisfy a growing market among the nobility and other elite patrons.