Michelangelo remained a devoted Catholic throughout his life, but by the end of his life his religious feelings were noticeably aggravated – an expression of this was his reference to the theme of the Passion of Christ. Interest in it can be traced both in the poems of Michelangelo, and in a series of drawings depicting the Crucifixion.
One of these drawings was intended as a gift to the poet Vittoria Colonna, the widow of Marquis Pescara, and the others, obviously, are etudes to the sculptural group of the same name. Some drawings bear traces of the artist’s reflections on Christianity; they are distinguished by the strength and depth of spiritual experiences. “Etude with three crosses”, made in red chalk.
Related Paintings 
Perfect Head by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Victory (sculpture) by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Michelangelo’s Hand by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Étude avec trois croix – Michelangelo Buonarroti 
The image of Christ on the fresco The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Shrine of Julius II by Michelangelo Buonarroti 
Flood, a fragment of the painting of the Sistine Chapel (fresco) by Michelangelo Buonarroti
Perfect Head by Michelangelo Buonarroti The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti Victory (sculpture) by Michelangelo Buonarroti Michelangelo’s Hand by Michelangelo Buonarroti Étude avec trois croix – Michelangelo Buonarroti The image of Christ on the fresco The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Buonarroti Shrine of Julius II by Michelangelo Buonarroti Flood, a fragment of the painting of the Sistine Chapel (fresco) by Michelangelo Buonarroti