Christ on the Way to Calvary

Jacques Jordaens, c. 1655 - c. 1660

Jacob Jordaens, 1593 - 1678. Christ Carrying the Cross, c. 1655/1660 Jordaens, himself a Protestant, was commissioned to paint this altarpiece by the Jesuits in Amsterdam. It was intended for the high altar of one of the city's hidden Catholic churches: St Francis Xavier's, better known as De Krijtberg on the Singel. Jordaens probably found inspiration for this painting in one of the oil sketches Rubens drew between 1634 and 1637 for an altar-piece for Affligem Abbey. Characteristic of Jordaens is the way the figures are piled up high and the lack of depth. The procession files past from left to right towards the figures of the Virgin Mary and Veronica. Sold by the Church in 1969. On loan since 1986. Purchased in 1997, with the support of the Rijksmuseum Foundation.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4923
  • Dimensionssupport: height 242.7 cm x width 175.5 cm, outer size: depth 8 cm (support incl. frame)
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Christ on the Way to Calvary

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-4923

  • Description

    De kruisdraging. In het midden Christus met het kruis op de schouders. Links Simon van Cyrene, rechts Veronica, Maria en Johannes. Aan weerszijden van Christus de twee moordenaars, boven priesters te paard. De stoet wordt begeleid door Romeinse soldaten. Het schilderij is vervaardigd voor de kerk St. Franciscus Xaverius (De Krijtberg) aan de Singel te Amsterdam.

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Jacques Jordaens

  • Dating

    c. 1655 - c. 1660

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • support: height 242.7 cm x width 175.5 cm
    • outer size: depth 8 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Rijksmuseum-Stichting

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1997-03-04

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    ? Commissioned as one of the high altarpieces of the hidden Jesuit church, Sint Franciscus Xaveriuskerk, or the Krijtberg, Amsterdam; sale, Margaret Louise van Alen Bruguiere et al. [section 'The Dutch Province of the Society of Jesus, removed from the Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Amsterdam'], London (Christie’s), 5 December 1969, no. 100, bought in;{Copy RMA. Note RMA.} sale, the Albright Leasing Corporation et al. [section 'The Dutch Province of the Society of Jesus'], London (Christie’s), 29 March 1974, no. 18, 46,000 gns, to the Leger Galleries;{Copy RMA.} Leger Galleries, London, 1976;…; the dealer Colnaghi, New York, 1984; the dealer Robert Noortman, Maastricht; from whom, 1986, on loan to the museum; from whom, fl. 481,599, with support from the Rijksmuseum Stichting, to the museum, 1997; on loan to the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, since 2004

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

    • 'Recent acquisitions at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam', The Burlington Magazine (November 2000), p. 732 met afb. IX.
    • Xander van Eck, 'De Jezuïeten en het wervende wisselaltaarstuk', De Zeventiende eeuw (1998), nr. 1, p. 81-82, 85
    • A. van Griensven, 'Openbaar kunstbezit verrijkt met twee oude meesters', Financieel Dagblad woensdag 19 maart 1997 (kunstbedrijf), afb.

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