Cella
Spectator
I'm intrigued by this wonderful image. A woman is suffering a gruesome death. Trying to figure out the story here.
The three women appear sad and distraught watching another woman--the wife of a baker--being crucified. If they are in the minority why are so many others glad to see the wife crucified? What could the wife have done?
Is the fact she's the wife of a baker significant? Why a baker? Could she just as easily been the wife of a butcher, a banker?
Maybe the crucified woman committed a terrible crime and is paying the price for it, so most people are glad to see her face justice. But these are her sisters, her family, and even though they know she probably deserves to die, they are nonetheless sorrowful to see her suffer. She is their beloved sister, after all.
Had to add more in an edit:
The woman on the left side in back of the group seems to be sneering or angry while the other two seem sorrowful. She also looks a little older and could by the mother of the other two and mother of the crucified woman. Or, maybe she's the sister of the crucified woman and the two younger ones are nieces. Lots of ways to think of this little group. They may not even be blood relations, but I think they are given their standing so close together and embracing. It's the angry look of this woman (whatever her relationship to the other two and the crucified woman, but probably as a sister or mother) that makes me think she's selfishly wondering how this crucifixion will affect her standing in the community. She's not so sorrowful or distraught over the sufferings of the crucified woman, but very angry with her for doing something that reflects badly on her.
Imagine having a daughter who was crucified for a serious crime. Indeed, what a shame on her family! We'll have to move to save face!
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