Artwork
Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ Carrying the Cross is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Francken the Younger. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Christ Carrying the Cross is a 1620 oil painting by Frans Francken the Younger, a Flemish artist known for his altarpieces and historical scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Jesus Christ carrying a cross, surrounded by a crowd dressed in 17th-century clothing. Jesus wears a simple tunic and a crown of thorns, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and trees.
Technique & Style
Francken's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and drama, with light coming from the left. The figures are arranged dynamically around Jesus, who is at the center of the composition.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Walters Art Museum's collection. Frans Francken the Younger was a prolific artist who often collaborated with specialists in landscape and still life to enhance his narrative compositions.
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.
Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ carrying the cross
Christ carrying the cross
Christ carrying the cross
Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ carrying the Cross
Preparation for the Crucifixion
The Crucifixion of St. Andrew
Carrying the Cross
Christ Falling beneath the Cross
The Journey to Calvary
Entry of David into Jerusalem