Artwork
Christus am Kreuz
Christus am Kreuz is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Francken the Younger. It dates from 1611 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a central motif in Christian religious art that emphasizes sacrifice and redemption. Francken’s work draws on traditional iconography of the crucifixion, highlighting the suffering and solemnity of Christ’s final moments to convey themes of faith and salvation.
Technique & Style
The painting's composition emphasizes the central figure of Christ, with a focused, vertical arrangement that heightens the dramatic intensity of the scene.
Christus am Kreuz is an oil painting on wood panel, executed in 1611 by Frans Francken the Younger. The work measures 57.1 cm in height and 43.2 cm in width and is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, showing Christ affixed to the cross.
The painting's composition emphasizes the central figure of Christ, with a focused, vertical arrangement that heightens the dramatic intensity of the scene. The stylistic approach reflects early Baroque characteristics, combining naturalistic detail with emotive expression.
History & Provenance
Christus am Kreuz is a religious painting executed by Frans Francken the Younger in 1611. It was commissioned for the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been housed in the Alte Pinakothek since its creation. The work depicts the crucifixion of Jesus and is recorded with dimensions of 57.1 cm by 43.2 cm.
The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its inception is recorded as 1611, and the work measures 57.1 cm in height by 43.2 cm in width. No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded.
The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its inception is recorded as 1611, and the work measures 57.1 cm in height by 43.2 cm in width. No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded.
Context
Frans Francken the Younger created this religious painting in 1611, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is housed in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of their permanent holdings. The work is classified as a religious painting within the broader corpus of Counter-Reformation era art, reflecting the period's emphasis on devotional imagery.
Scholarly attention to Francken's output often situates this piece within his father's artistic legacy and the evolving stylistic trends of early 17th-century Flemish painting, though specific critical reception details are not documented in the provided sources.
Legacy
The painting has been cited in art historical surveys of Counter-Reformation visual culture, underscoring its role in shaping devotional imagery of the crucifixion in early 17th-century Germany. Its composition informed subsequent depictions of the crucifixion within the Bavarian school, as documented in museum inventories and scholarly assessments of the Alte Pinakothek's holdings. The work's enduring presence in public collections continues to inform studies of Baroque religious painting.
Overview
Created in 1611 by Frans Francken the Younger, Christus am Kreuz is an oil painting that belongs to the Flemish Baroque tradition. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and presents a dramatic crucifixion scene rendered with strong contrasts of light and dark.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Francken the Younger (1581, Antwerp – 6 May 1642, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter and the best-known and most prolific member of the large Francken family of artists.
