Pamono Workshop of Anthoon Van Dyck, Christ Carrying the Cross, 1650, Oil on Canvas, Framed> Old Masters

Oil on canvas (120 x 94 cm. – framed 140 x 112 cm.)

This remarkable canvas, depicting Christ Carrying the Cross, embodies the stylistic canons that distinguish refined Flemish art of the early 17th century, and is particularly attributable to the workshop of Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 – London 1641), one of the most influential and celebrated painters of the Flemish Baroque.

The moment depicted is one of the most intense in the Passion, when Christ, after enduring the mockery and torture of his tormentors, is burdened with the weight of the cross and begins his ascent to Calvary, where he will die.

Although this iconographic formula traditionally identifies a dramatic moment, drawing attention to Christ’s suffering, we see him depicted here without the slightest sign of the torture he endured and without the crown of thorns on his head. The exceptions are the nail marks on his hands, which foreshadow the fate he will face, without, however, lingering excessively.

His body, with its perfect form, appears strong and healthy, unyielding under the weight of the cross, while his face displays a thoughtful yet serene expression, and the image is so composed that one almost forgets its movement.

The painting’s beautiful style, perfectly in keeping with Baroque art, is characterized by rich tones—the deep red drape is a perfect example—and a dramatic use of light and shadow that accentuates the pathos of the moment.

The painting follows, albeit with modifications, the model of Christ Holding the Cross by Anton van Dyck, now housed in Genoa at the Strada Nuova Museums
This panel painting completed a series of the Twelve Apostles, once housed in the Serra collection in Genoa, now divided among various collections around the world. An early work, dating to Van Dyck’s period of activity before his arrival in Genoa, it can be compared to a similar subject by Rubens. Indeed, the influence of the older master is evident in the style as well.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold with a beautiful frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic.