In Christian theology, the death of Jesus by crucifixion is a central event. It represents a critical aspect of the doctrine of salvation, as the suffering and death of Jesus, the Messiah, was believed necessary for the forgiveness of man’s sins. According to the New Testament, Jesus rose from the dead after three days and appeared to his disciples before his ascension to Heaven.
John Cameron, an artist who worked for Currier & Ives and often designed racing horse prints for the firm, presents Jesus on the cross in the center. He is flanked by two other men, who were thieves. Mourners for Jesus are gathered at the foot of his cross. Several soldiers on the left express alarm as the earth opens in the foreground, revealing ghosts and skeletons. The sky also opens up and angels fly into the shaft of light. The juxtaposition of the ground and sky symbolize the on-going battle between the forces of good and evil.
