Christ carrying the Cross

This is an early period work by the 16th-century Flemish painter Beuckelaer. Jerusalem can be seen in the upper left, while Golgotha, the site of the Crucifixion, appears in the right background. Christ is shown in the central foreground, stumbling under the weight of the cross he carries towards Golgotha. Soldiers urge him on, raising staves and pulling on his shackles. Simon of Cyrene, tries to help Christ carry the cross, while the high priest, Pharisees and Roman commanders walk ahead of and behind Christ. The right edge of the foreground shows Madonna collapsed with grief, aided by several women and St. John the Evangelist. This type of “"tage set-like": composition of Christ Carrying the Cross, with Jerusalem and Golgotha shown in the background, a central rocky hill, and a small path in the center, is frequently found in Netherlandish and German painting from the 15th century onwards. Beuckelaer based his work on such earlier examples but used a sketch-like brushwork not found in 15th-century Netherlandish painting, and thus gave his painting a sense of vivid movement. This type of rough brushwork is frequently seen in small-scale works for private individuals, and it can be considered a means of responding to high demand for such works. However, the central figures, whether Christ or the Madonna, are shown in careful finish, clearly an intentional difference from the surrounding sketchy depiction. This element of contrast suggests that this work should be considered an experiment with the new painting techniques being developed in the 16th century.(Source: Masterpieces of the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 2009, cat. no. 24)