Artist Ben Shahn had always wanted to be alive during a time of greatness, such as the crucifixion of Christ.

[1] Seeing the public reaction to and honoring of Sacco and Vanzetti's lives, Shahn came to see the event as a "crucifixion" of his own time.

It was later reproduced in the catalog and brought on national tour but only sold years later, in 1949, to the Whitney Museum of American Art's permanent collection.

[2] Shahn resuscitated the mural concept when Syracuse University invited him to create a mural panel series in 1965, which is displayed on the external wall of the university's law school.

The university press published an art book of the murals with reproductions several years later.