‘The crucifixion’, by David Jones
Wood engraving from A child’s rosary book: being the fifteen mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary divided into three parts; the joyful, the sorrowful and the glorious mysteries
Ditchling, Sussex: S. Dominic’s Press, 1924
Syn.5.91.24(19), pp. 22–23

Engraved image © Trustees of the David Jones Estate. We are grateful to the estate of David Jones for permission to reproduce engravings by the artist.

To illustrate ‘The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, The Crucifixion’, David Jones depicted Jesus on the cross surrounded by the three Marys (his mother, the wife of Cleopas, and the Magdalen), St John, and flanked by the two thieves who were crucified at the same time. To the right stands a soldier holding the lance with which Jesus is to be pierced. Jones also went beyond the Gospel account to place St Dominic in the scene as one of the faithful disciples grieving at his Lord’s death, following the much earlier example of Fra Angelico.