This painting by Fra Angelico shows Christ on the Cross between the two thieves. The skull of Adam lies at the foot of the Cross. The Virgin Mary, John the Apostle and two Dominican saints gather around the Cross.
Though no Dominicans were physically present at the historical Crucifixion of Our Lord, Fra Angelico (a Dominican himself) most likely wanted to put the Crucifixion of Christ into the context of the daily lives of his brethren in a mystical way.
Coming out of the mouth of Christ are painted, in Latin, the words He spoke to the good thief on Golgotha: "Hodie mecum eris paradiso — today, you will be with Me in paradise."
