Roque de Balduque, The Cáceres Altarpiece: Detail, The Scourging and the Carrying of the Cross

1547-51
Cáceres Cathedral, Cáceres, Spain

In the right panel Jesus has fallen and two other figures are steadying the cross for him. The composition may be influenced by the falls that Jesus takes in the "Stations of the Cross" images that became popular in the 16th century (Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. "Way of the Cross.).

The angels on the far left and far right of the upper register hold some of the instruments of the Passion; note the pillar held by the angel on the far left. The instruments are most often seen in images of the Dëesis and of the less common Death of Jesus. Both of these focus on the salvation that Christ earned for humanity through the passion and death that are pictured here in the relief panels.

View this image in full resolution.
View the entire altarpiece.
Read more about Jesus on Trial and The Way of the Cross.

• Home Page
• The Way of the Cross
• This Page

Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.