By Peter Paul Rubens

This painting, The Raising of the Cross, by Peter Paul Rubens, stands as a testament to the creativity and skill of an artist of faith. A staunch Catholic, Rubens is perhaps best known for his emotional religious masterpieces. This particular piece, part of a triptych now installed in the Antwerp Cathedral, showcases Rubens’ dynamic exposition of a common Christian theme. Part of the Catholic Passion cycle, the raising of the cross allows viewers to see their Savior at a moment that is bothdeeply human and unmistakably divine.

The Raising of the Cross makes use of classical Baroque techniques to emphasize greater spiritual truths. The viewer can immediately pick out the strong contrast of light and dark, as well as the tangled, oblique knot of corded flesh that struggles to lift the Saviour to His death.

While the elements of chiaroscuro and diagonal composition are legible traces of Rubens’ taste for almost operatic drama, they also complement the subject matter of the piece. The almost violent contrasts between bright and shadowed serve as reminders of the cosmic battle between good and evil that is being waged in the painting, while the twisted knot of men serves to reinforce the incredible weight of Jesus, crushed under the burden of the world’s sins. Both the number and obvious exertion of the executioners points to the metaphysical, spiritual weight of Christ. The strong lines of diagonal motion also serve to dramatize what could become a rather simplistic or boring scene, reminding the worshiper of the true nature of the supernatural scene that is being enacted before them. As always, Rubens deftly fused his mastery of technique and stylistic language with a profound grasp of the theological significance of his religious subject matter.

Peter Paul Rubens was a prime example of the intersection between faith and excellence. Known best for his complex and theatrical paintings, Rubens was also a devoted husband and father, an influential diplomat for the Spanish Netherlands, and a savvy businessman. Inspired by classical art and philosophy, as well as Baroque influences such as Caravaggio, Rubens developed his own style of highly dramatic, expansive paintings that often took the form of altarpieces or scenes from classical mythology. A man of both personal dedication and professional ability, Rubens was known for his thirteen-hour workdays, as well as his small army of apprentices and assistants, who helped him finish many a commission. It was this combination of passion and savvy that made Rubens not only an influential figure in the arts and politics of his own time, but a formidable example of a successful artist of faith.

References:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Website

The National Gallery Website

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