Who painted The carrying of the cross?

The carrying of the cross was painted by Jacob Jordaens in 1657.

Where can I see The carrying of the cross?

The carrying of the cross is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is The carrying of the cross?

The carrying of the cross is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of The carrying of the cross?

Museum-quality prints of The carrying of the cross are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The carrying of the cross

Jacob Jordaens , 1657

The carrying of the cross is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Jordaens’ 1657 oil painting *The Carrying of the Cross* presents a dramatic moment from the Passion of Christ.

Jacob Jordaens’ 1657 oil painting *The Carrying of the Cross* presents a dramatic moment from the Passion of Christ. A naked figure, his torso wrapped only in a white cloth, bears a massive wooden cross while a crowd of richly dressed onlookers surrounds him, their gestures ranging from prayerful supplication to concerned observation. A cloudy sky and distant hills complete the composition, emphasizing the solemn atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure represents Jesus Christ in the final stages of his journey to Golgotha, his twisted posture and downcast gaze conveying physical strain and spiritual resignation. The surrounding figures, rendered in vivid garments, embody the varied human responses to suffering—compassion, awe, and pleading—highlighting the narrative’s emotional complexity and inviting contemplation of faith and sacrifice.

Technique & Style

Jordaens employs strong chiaroscuro, with a luminous source emerging from the left that casts deep, enveloping shadows across the scene. This contrast heightens the tension and dramatizes the figures’ forms. The painter’s brushwork combines the robust vigor of Flemish Baroque with a keen attention to texture, evident in the flesh, cloth, and the rough timber of the cross.

History & Provenance

Created after the deaths of Rubens and van Dyck, the work marks Jordaens’ ascendancy as the foremost Flemish Baroque artist of his generation, despite his lack of direct study in Italy. *The Carrying of the Cross* entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of 17th‑century Dutch and Flemish painting.