Compassion

The composition centers a large wooden cross with Jesus crucified, his arms outstretched and a white cloth draped at the hips, with blood visible at the feet. A bearded man stands beside the cross, supporting Jesus’ weight and leaning toward him, while a parchment with inscriptions is attached to the cross, set against a moody, stormy sky. The painting uses a restrained, earthy color palette and Bouguereau’s polished, academic technique—smooth flesh modeling, subtle tonal transitions, and careful attention to detail—to convey a somber, compassionate mood.