The Ascent to Calvary. The Bearing of the Cross 1634

Peter Paul Reubens made this sketch for ‘The Ascent to Calvary’ using oil on panel, sometime in the early 17th century. It depicts Christ carrying the cross, surrounded by soldiers and onlookers. As a Northern European artist, Reubens was well aware of the religious upheavals caused by the Reformation. In Catholic countries, art served a crucial public role: inspiring faith and reaffirming doctrine. Reubens uses dynamic diagonals and dramatic figures to evoke the emotional intensity of Christ's suffering. But consider too the politics of imagery. How does Reubens portray authority? The Roman soldiers are confidently mounted on horseback, bearing a standard. In contrast, Christ is a broken figure struggling under his burden. In this way, Reubens uses visual codes to reinforce religious hierarchies, and the painting invites the viewer to contemplate power and sacrifice. To understand this work fully, we can look at the history of the Catholic Church in the 17th century and examine the writings of theologians. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.