Christus met het kruis en Veronica met doek 1600 - 1650

This drawing, "Christus met het kruis en Veronica met doek" (Christ with the Cross and Veronica with the Cloth) by Wierix, depicts a pivotal moment in the Passion of Christ. The scene showcases the moment when Jesus, weighed down by the heavy cross, collapses on the road to Calvary. Veronica, a woman of piety, approaches and offers him a cloth to wipe his brow, leaving an imprint of his face. The scene is framed by an oval, which, combined with the detailed penmanship and a sense of drama, is characteristic of late-Renaissance Northern European art. The drawing's small size suggests it was likely intended as a devotional piece for private study or contemplation.