Christ Bearing the Cross

523
Christ Bearing the Cross
beginning 16th c.
Circle of Giorgio da Castelfranco, known as Giorgion

The almost monochrome painting of subtly toned brown shades depicts the young Christ bearing the cross in a left three-quarter view, as well as two expressively portrayed officers. The light falls from the right, theatrically illuminating Christ's exhausted face and producing a halo around His head, and also highlighting the rough profiles of the two officers with cold reflections in the armour. The strong High Renaissance realism and the plain, balanced composition of the work are pervaded by poetic, "Giorgione-type" colours.