Composition:
The upper figures are frozen in a moment of frenzied, grief-laden activity, carrying the body precariously down from the cross. The lower figures seem to exist almost in another reality, serving as symbols of anguish, devoid of the activity suggested by the upper half of the tableau.
The tall figure with red hair, traditionally St. John, is widely considered to be a self-portrait of Fiorentino. By including himself in the composition he becomes part of the emotional intensity of his own work. The position he is in, stooped over in anguish with his head buried in his hands, accentuates this.
Color palette:
The colors in Deposition from the Cross are bold, dramatic and dissonant, inspiring feelings of horror and grief. The body of Christ is a sickly green hue, his reddish hair clashing with the cadaverous tones of his skin.
Mood elicited:
Where previous depictions of the Deposition tended to focus more on the scene itself - the action, the background, and often idealized figures - Fiorentino's work focuses solely on emotion.
The background is practically nonexistent, channeling all of the viewer's energy on the figures stopped in their tracks.
Use of lighting:
The harsh and unnatural lighting seems to come from a flash from above, freezing the participants in a snapshot moment in time.
Brushstroke:
By this point in his career Fiorentino had mastered the art of detail, which is apparent in the figures' expressions. The oil paint is applied in light strokes, creating a smoothness of texture and subtle layered effect.
This technique was seen frequently with Florentine painters, in contrast to the thicker paint application typical of the Venetians.