Artwork
Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ Carrying the Cross is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Italian 16th Century. It dates from 1518 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a hand‑colored woodcut depicting a bearded figure in a red robe and green hat, burdened with a wooden cross.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:across bottom in plate: (four lines of text)
About this work
Overview
The work is a hand‑colored woodcut depicting a bearded figure in a red robe and green hat, burdened with a wooden cross. His expression is solemn and his posture leans forward under the load. Surrounding him are additional characters, some holding thorns or tools, while a red rose appears to hover nearby, adding a symbolic accent.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents Christ bearing the cross, a common theme in Christian iconography. The surrounding figures, some clutching crowns of thorns or implements, suggest the Passion narrative, while the floating red rose may allude to martyrdom or divine love. A Latin inscription at the bottom likely offers a theological interpretation of the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the image relies on bold, carved lines and flat areas of color applied by hand. The limited palette, primarily reds, greens, and black, creates a stark visual contrast that emphasizes the figure’s movement and the drama of the moment. Hand‑coloring after printing adds a personalized touch typical of early modern printmaking.
History & Provenance
The piece is identified as a hand‑colored woodcut print; no specific artist or date is provided in the source material. Its survival in a collection suggests it was valued for its devotional content and for illustrating the technical possibilities of woodcut printing in the period when such works were used for both private contemplation and public instruction.
Artist & collection
Artist
An anonymous 16th-century Italian sculptor left a handful of small bronzes in dark brown and gilt.
