Jesus was not depicted on the cross until the early 5th century. Since then this scene has been painted or carved in sharply differing ways. With the aid of over 30 full-page plates, The Passion in Art explores the historical contexts and theologies which led to such differing depictions. Because the first Christians saw the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as different aspects of a unified victory over sin and death, scenes of the passion are juxtaposed with some of the resurrection, which again are highly varied in what they do and do not show. This is the first book to consider the passion as portrayed in the whole sweep of Christian history. Each picture is considered both from the point of view of its context and its theological standpoint.