Christ Carrying the Cross
Cornelis van Poelenburch·early 1620s
Historical Context
Cornelis van Poelenburch's Christ Carrying the Cross from the early 1620s is an unusual devotional subject for this artist who typically painted Arcadian landscapes and mythological scenes. The work dates from Poelenburch's Roman period, when exposure to Italian religious painting may have inspired this treatment of a Passion subject. The small copper support was favored for precious, intimate works intended for private devotion.
Technical Analysis
The oil-on-copper technique produces a smooth, luminous surface suited to Poelenburch's refined, miniaturist style. The warm coloring and careful figure drawing demonstrate his characteristic blend of Italian warmth with Dutch precision, here applied to a devotional rather than pastoral subject.
Provenance
Private collection, Paris;[1] (Galerie Claude Vittet, Paris); purchased 11 April 2007 by NGA. [1] Claude Vittet, in an e-mail of 14 January 2007 to Molli Kuenstner (in NGA curatorial files), writes that the painting had "not been seen on the market since probably the beginning of the XVIIIth century."
