Description
The Raising of the Cross painting by Peter Paul Rubens is a Flemish Baroque masterpiece that stands out for its impressive original size of 460 x 340 cm. This work was commissioned by the Church of Saint Walburga in Antwerp in the year 1610 and represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Rubens used an artistic style characteristic of the Flemish Baroque, which is characterized by its drama and exaggeration in shapes and colors. In this work, you can appreciate the strength and energy that the artist printed in each of the characters represented.
The composition of the painting is very interesting, as Rubens managed to create a sense of movement and depth in the scene. The characters are distributed in different planes and the perspective can be seen in the representation of the background landscape.
Color is another prominent aspect of the work, as Rubens used a very rich and varied color palette. Red and gold tones predominate in the work, giving it a very vibrant and luminous appearance.
The history of the painting is also very interesting, since it was commissioned for the Church of Saint Walburga in Antwerp, where it is currently located. The work was restored on several occasions and has been the subject of numerous studies and analysis.
A little known aspect of the painting is that Rubens did not work alone on it, but had the help of several of his students and collaborators in the workshop. This can be seen in the great amount of detail and complexity of the work.
In short, the Raising of the Cross painting is a Flemish Baroque masterpiece that stands out for its size, its artistic style, its composition and its rich color palette. A work that continues to fascinate and excite viewers more than 400 years after its creation.