Artwork
The carrying of the cross
The carrying of the cross is an oil painting. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The oil painting portrays a solemn procession in which a central figure, clad in dark garments, bears a heavy wooden cross.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By highlighting the moment of transit to the crucifixion, the artwork emphasizes the theological significance of Christ's sacrifice and endurance.
This religious painting depicts the biblical episode of Christ carrying the cross. The central figure of Jesus Christ is portrayed gazing directly toward the viewer, a compositional choice that establishes an immediate spiritual connection and invites contemplation of his suffering.
Created in Antwerp around 1650 by the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens, the work serves as a devotional image focused on the Passion narrative. By highlighting the moment of transit to the crucifixion, the artwork emphasizes the theological significance of Christ's sacrifice and endurance.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a medium and support typical of Rubens’s workshop in Antwerp. As a religious painting, it follows the conventions of the genre, depicting Christ carrying the cross with a gaze toward the viewer. The handling of the paint reflects the workshop’s practice, though specific brushwork details are not recorded in the sources. No information on the painting’s current condition is provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
The work titled 'The carrying of the cross' was painted in 1650 by the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp. Executed in oil paint on panel, it measures 74 cm in height and 55 cm in width. Originally owned by Adriaan Leonard van Heteren Gevers, the painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and remains there today. Its creation is documented as part of Rubens' workshop output, reflecting religious themes characteristic of the period.
The painting is held at the Rijksmuseum under inventory number Kabinet van Heteren Gevers. It was created in Antwerp around 1650 in oil paint on panel. The work, attributed to the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens, depicts Jesus carrying the cross and has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition.
Overview
The oil painting portrays a solemn procession in which a central figure, clad in dark garments, bears a heavy wooden cross. Surrounding participants, rendered in varied hues, assist or observe the burden. A kneeling woman in the foreground supports the central figure’s head with a cloth, emphasizing the scene’s emotional intensity.
Context
Executed in oil, the work aligns with traditions of religious narrative painting that employ strong contrasts and emotive gestures to convey theological themes. The emphasis on human interaction within the biblical episode reflects a longstanding artistic interest in dramatizing sacred stories for devotional contemplation.
Artist & collection
Martirio di san Vitale
The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Saints by Peter Paul Rubens
Christ on the Cross between the two criminals
El expolio de Cristo
Moses Striking Water from the Rock
Adoration of the Magi
The Deposition
The beheading of Saint George
The Deposition from the Cross
Adoration of the Magi
Annunciation to the Shepherds- The carrying of the cross