Who painted Christ on the Cross?

Christ on the Cross was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1612.

Where can I see Christ on the Cross?

Christ on the Cross is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Christ on the Cross?

Christ on the Cross is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Christ on the Cross

Peter Paul Rubens , 1612

Christ on the Cross is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work is classified as religious art, reflecting its function as a devotional image that invites contemplation of Christ's sacrifice.

The painting portrays the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, presenting him as the sacrificial savior whose death redeems humanity. The composition emphasizes his central placement and the poignant gesture of the outstretched arms, symbolizing both suffering and divine love within the Christian narrative. The work is classified as religious art, reflecting its function as a devotional image that invites contemplation of Christ's sacrifice.

Technique & Style

Christ on the Cross is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a support typical of early seventeenth-century Flemish cabinet pictures. The panel measures 105.5 cm in height and 74 cm in width, an upright format suited to the verticality of the crucifixion composition. As a religious painting, the work belongs to the devotional genre, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The combination of oil medium and panel support allowed for the layered, glazed handling associated with Peter Paul Rubens's early practice.

History & Provenance

The painting Christ on the Cross is attributed to Peter Paul Rubens and dated to 1612. Executed in oil paint on panel, the work measures 105.5 cm in height and 74 cm in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is cataloged as a religious artwork depicting the crucifixion of Jesus.

Christ on the Cross, attributed to Peter Paul Rubens and dated 1612, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work, executed in oil on panel and measuring 105.5 cm in height by 74 cm in width, is catalogued within that institution's holdings of religious paintings.

No specific accession number or documented exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.

Overview

Created in 1612, this oil on canvas by Peter Paul Rubens presents a crucifixion scene in which the body of Christ dominates the composition. The figure is rendered nude, his limbs secured to a wooden cross, while a modest cloth covers his hips. The painting resides in Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.

Context

Rubens, a leading figure of the Flemish Baroque, integrated classical composition with fervent Christian iconography. This piece exemplifies his response to the Catholic Church’s call for vivid, affective imagery intended to reinforce faith during the post‑Council of Trent period.