Christ Carrying of the Cross 1544

Jean Mignon created this engraving, *Christ Carrying the Cross,* around 1550. It depicts a moment from the Passion of Christ: his arduous journey to Calvary bearing the cross. Mignon was part of the artistic circle at the French court of Fontainebleau. This print speaks to the religious tensions that underpinned society at the time. The French monarchy had close ties to the Catholic Church, and religious imagery was very popular. But religious reform was gathering pace, and in choosing to portray the suffering of Christ, Mignon evokes the vulnerability of the individual in the face of established power. The setting is important: we see a bustling city, representing temporal authority, contrasted with the lone figure of Christ. To fully understand this image, we need to research both religious history and the social role of art in sixteenth-century France. The history of the court of Fontainebleau is critical: studying the patronage networks will help us understand the place of an artwork like this.