Christ Carrying the Cross
ca. 1577–87
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
41 5/16 x 31 1/8 in. (105 x 79 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.145
Tags
Art Historical Context
El Greco's *Christ Carrying the Cross* (ca. 1577–87), an oil on canvas 41 5/16 x 31 1/8 inches, captures a pivotal moment from the Passion of Christ. Painted shortly after the artist's arrival in Toledo, Spain, from Crete, this work exemplifies El Greco's distinctive Mannerist style—marked by elongated forms, dramatic lighting, and intense emotional expression. His swirling clouds and ethereal figures evoke a mystical spirituality, blending Byzantine roots with Italian Renaissance influences from Titian and Tintoretto. The painting's significance lies in its devotional power during Spain's Co...