Christ carrying the Cross

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Christ, barefoot and weeping but dressed in rich red and blue, is bent under the weight of the Cross. The spikes of the crown of thorns dig into his flesh, and crystal tears drip down his cheeks. He is dragging the Cross to his own crucifixion.

The setting is not first-century Palestine, but Renaissance Italy. In the background is a walled town on the edge of a river or lake. It is clearly a fine day: the skies are blue, people stroll on the path by the water and washing has been hung to dry over the balcony.

This is one of a pair of small panels by the Milanese artist Ambrogio Bergognone. They probably originally formed part of a multi-panelled altarpiece and an inscription in the bottom left corner of this panel includes the date 1501.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Christ carrying the Cross

Date

probably 1501

Medium

Oil on wood

Measurements

H 99.7 x W 45.1 cm

Accession number

NG1077.2

Acquisition method

Bought, 1879

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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