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“The Raising of the Cross” Critique Essay

Danielle Osborne

Sinclair Community College

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Looking at the piece of artwork, “The Raising of the Cross”, I had memories of many

church dramas and stories told about Jesus’ crucifixion.  Seeing this piece, I am able to visualize

it as a real experience.

“The Raising of the Cross” is also known as “The Elevation of the Cross”.  It is a triptych

painting which is a representation of the crucifixion of Christ by Peter Paul Rubens.  The piece

was painted in 1610 on a canvas with oil.  The piece measures 15 feet in height and 21 feet wide

when it is opened.  The piece was painted for the Church of St. Walburga in Antwerp.  The

church was later demolished in 1817. (www.peterpaulrubens.net)  The painting is now located in

the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp.  The piece consists of a central panel and two outer

“wings”.  The piece was even more impressive in size when it was in its original frame which

was lost.  Rubens hid behind a curtain while he painted the piece on site due to its size.

(www.khanacademy.org) 

In Siegen, Nassau, Westphalia (Germany), Peter Paul Rubens was born on June 28,

1577.  His family moved to Antwerp which is now Belgium after the death of his father.  He

received an education and artistic training while in Antwerp.  He became an apprentice for

several established artists.  He was accepted into Antwerp’s professional guild for painters in

1598.  In 1600, he traveled to Italy.  He was hired by Vincenzo I Gonzaga and was

commissioned to paint portraits.  He began to receive commissions to paint religious works for

churches.  In 1608, Rubens returned home and married Isabella Brant.  He set up his own studio

and hired a staff of assistants.  He was appointed as the court painter to Archduke Albert and

Archduchess Isabella.  Rubens was commissioned to paint two large religious works, “The

Raising of the Cross” and “The Descent from the Cross” for Antwerp Cathedral between 1610

and 1614.  He also created paintings with historical and mythological scenes because he did not
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want to limit himself to just religious pieces.  He painted hunting scenes such as “Wolf and Fox

Hunt”.  After the death of his wife in 1626, Rubens traveled and started combining his artistic

career with diplomatic visits.  Upon his return to Antwerp, he married his second wife, Helena. 

He painted “Self-Portrait with Helena and Peter Paul”.  He did this to show his domestic

happiness with his new wife and son.  At the time of his death, May 30, 1640, he was one of the

most celebrated artists in Europe.  Rubens style of work consisted of Renaissance idealization of

the human form in which he used lush brushwork, dynamic poses, and lively sense of realism. 

(www.biography.com)

“The Raising of the Cross” consists of two outer “wings” and a central panel.  You can

see four saints that are associated with the church of St. Walburga on the exterior of the

“wings”.  The saints are visible when the altarpiece is closed.  Rubens used a strong diagonal

emphasis.  He did this by placing the base of the cross at the far lower right and the top of the

cross at the upper left.  This made Christ’s body the focal point.  In the lower right you see two

men who appear to be ready to enter the view by pulling the cross upward.  Rubens seemed to

use this to have people be caught up in the event and having people wait to see what would

happen next.   He used a diagonal along the line from the lower right to the mid-left which is

where John and Mary are set.  This allows the viewer to see their expression.  He created a

diagonal that runs the opposite direction moving from the lower left to the upper right along the

line created by the leg and neck of the gray horse.  By using these diagonals, Rubens is creating

tension and drama.  Rubens used oak trees and vines which bring into the painting Christological

significance.  Rubens kept St. John, the Virgin Mary, and the Roman soldiers on the same

ground-line.  He created unification of the central and right panels through the sky.  The sky

actually begins to get darker as you move into the central panel. (www.khanacademy.org)
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Two thieves are being prepared for their execution by Roman soldiers on the right wing. 

When closed, you can see St. Eligius and Saint Catherine of Alexandria on the back.  The

left wing shows the Virgin Mary and St. John. Other women and children are also shown with

the expression of horror.  St. Amadeus and St. Walburga appear on the back.  These two “wings”

are connected to the middle panel by the story being told and by the background.  There is a

mountain on the left and a clouded sky that continues to the right wing.  Ruben created three

pieces of art, but connected them to be one piece.  (www.grin.com)  The center panel shows

Christ on the cross and being raised by muscular men.  Rubens showed the uneasiness of the

lifting of Christ by the many men working and the struggle they seem to be having.  (www.

khanacademy.org)

“The Raising of the Cross” depicted the hard work the men must have been going

through by lifting the cross with Christ on it.  Rubens was able to show this to his audience by

the muscles of the men and the use of ropes to raise the cross.  He made the people and animals

seem realistic.  This is seen by the dog barking.  The dog could be cheering them on or trying to

stop them from hurting Christ.  The left panel shows a mother nursing her child.  This shows that

at the time it must have been normal for children to be at such an event.  Mary and John were

depicted of people feeling pain by their expressions.  This shows how were feeling as they watch

what was happening.  The right panel shows soldiers riding horses and criminals walking.  This

shows me how people must have been treated during this time.  Rubens created a piece of

artwork that showed how people reacted during this event.  It draws you into the painting and

makes you feel as if you are there witnessing it happen.  Overall, Rubens created a piece that

allows people to make a connection to stories heard and dramas seen to what it could actually

have looked like and the feeling people were having during the event.
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Works Cited:

Biography. Peter Paul Rubens Biography. https://www.biography.com /people/peter-paul-

rubens-9466127

Grin. Rubens’ "Raising of the Cross" and "Descent from the Cross".

https://www.grin.com/document/293857

Pritchard, Shannon. Rubens, Elevation of the Cross. https://www.khanacademy.org

/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/flanders-1/a/rubens-elevation-of-the-

cross

University of Mount Union. Raising of the Cross, 1610 by Peter Paul Rubens.

http://www.peterpaulrubens.net/raising-of-the-cross.jsp#prettyPhoto