Christ on the Cross - Francken
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This 17th-century painting of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was created by Flemish artist Franz Francken sometime between 1620 and 1640. It measures 19 ½ x 13 ½ inches and is oil on panel. This painting was originally thought to have been created by Gaspar De Crayer, a different Flemish artist. However, after careful analysis, it has been confirmed that Francken is the artist responsible for this painting.
This painting presents a very dramatic scene of the crucifixion, with a reddish sky in the upper left corner of the painting. Some crucifixes of the same era portray a view of old Jerusalem in the background. Instead, this painting features a gothic Flemish city with stone gray buildings in the lower left corner. The placard above Christ reads “Jesus of Nazareth—King of the Jews” in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
This painting is particularly interesting from a socio-economic standpoint. It is a testament to the hugely popular Antwerp decorative style in the first half of the 17th-century on the international market. There were enough paintings available for all people during this time period, again showing the success of this era.
This painting was donated by Fred B. Snite to the Snite Museum of Art in 1962. It is currently off view in preparation for the upcoming move to the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.