Raising of the Cross (Rembrandt)

Painting by Rembrandt

Raising of the Cross

Artist| Rembrandt
Year| c. 1633
Catalogue| A Corpus of Rembrandt Paintings VI, by the Rembrandt Research Project: #106
Medium| oil paint, canvas
Dimensions| 96.2 cm (37.9 in) × 72.2 cm (28.4 in)
Collection| Bavarian State Painting Collections, Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz collection
Identifiers| RKDimages ID: 30853
Bildindex der Kunst und Architektur ID: 20283892

[edit on Wikidata]

Raising of the Cross (German: Kreuzaufrichtung) is a 1633 painting by the Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek. It was painted as part of a "passion" series commissioned in 1633 by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. Together with its pendant, The Descent from the Cross, it is one of the rare paintings by Rembrandt with a continuous provenance from the date of completion to today.[1]

## Catalogued as Rembrandt

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This painting was documented by Hofstede de Groot in 1915, who wrote:

> 130\. The Elevation of the Cross. Sm. 91. Bode, 106; Dut. 81; Wb. 101; B.-HdG. 124. — In the centre foreground, the Cross, to which Christ is fastened, is raised from the right by four executioners. The man on the left of the group wears a cuirass and helmet. The man in the centre, wearing a light blue coat, has the features and the familiar blue cap of the painter. Two other men, in shadow to the right, support the Cross from the back. Behind this group is the Roman centurion on a grey horse; he wears a rich Eastern dress, consisting of a light turban, a coat of gold brocade with a sash, and a deep purple cloak. He leans his right hand, grasping a mace, on his hip. To the left, in half shadow, is a group of four Pharisees. To the right, farther back, soldiers bring forward the two thieves. A night scene. Full light falls from the left on the body of Christ, who casts His eyes upward as if in pain. Small full-length figures. Produced at the same time as its pendant, "The Descent from the Cross" (134), which was painted in 1633.
> Canvas, rounded at top, 38 inches by 28+1⁄2 inches.

> Engraved by Hess.
>  A copy was in the sale : — J. Durlacher, Frankfort-on-Main, December 11, 1906, No. 118.
>  A chalk drawing for the picture is in the Albertina, Vienna, HdG. 1423. Mentioned by Vosmaer, pp. 119, 497; by Bode, p. 434; by Dutuit, p. 30; by Michel, pp. 157, 554 [120, 438]; by Hofstede de Groot, Urkunden uber Rembrandt, No. 48.
>  In the collection of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, for whom Rembrandt painted it in 1633.
>  In the collection of the Prince's widow, Amalia von Solms, at the Oude Hof, The Hague, 1667 inventory, No. 69; but not in the inventories of the goods divided among her four daughters.
>  Probably, therefore, in the collection of her grandson William III., Prince of Orange and King of England, till 1702.
>  In the collection of Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine (who died in 1716), Düsseldorf, No. 215; see Van Gool, ii. 538. Transferred to Munich in 1806.

> In the Aeltere Pinakothek, Munich, 1911 catalogue, No. 327."[2]

Before him, Smith wrote in 1836:

> 91\. The Elevation of the Cross. The composition of this picture exhibits the Saviour naked all but the loins, attached to a lofty cross, which several men are exerting their efforts to raise; one of them, partly clad in armour, is pulling in front; while a second is aiding behind, and a third is at the side. The ceremony is directed by an officer habited in the Asiatic costume, mounted on horseback, with a club in his hand. Several spectators surround the cross, and at some little distance off may be perceived the two malefactors preparing to suffer. The sky is surcharged with dark clouds, and a deep and solemn gloom is shed over the affecting scene. Engraved

> by Hess.

> 2 ft. 10 in. by 2 ft. 1 in.— C. (arched.)
>  Now in the Public Gallery at Munich.[3]

## See also

[edit]

* List of paintings by Rembrandt
* Rembrandt's study for this painting, now in Museum Bredius

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The raising of the cross, ca. 1633 in the RKD
2. ^ Entry 130 for The Elevation of the Cross in Hofstede de Groot, 1915
3. ^ 91\. The Elevation of the Cross in Smith's catalogue raisonné of 1836

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Rembrandt

Lists of drawings, etchings, paintings, prints, self-portraits

Paintings|

* The Senses (1624–25)
* The Stoning of Saint Stephen (1625)
* Suffer little children to come unto me (1620s)
* History Painting (1626)
* Balaam and the Ass (1626)
* The Baptism of the Eunuch (1626)
* Bust of a Man Wearing a Gorget and Plumed Beret (1626)
* Tobit and Anna with the Kid (c. 1626)
* The Flight into Egypt (1627)
* The Parable of the Rich Fool (1627)
* The Artist in his Studio (1628)
* Samson and Delilah (1629–30)
* Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630)
* Anna and the Blind Tobit (c. 1630)
* The Raising of Lazarus (c. 1630–1632)
* Andromeda Chained to the Rocks (1631)
* The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1631)
* Christ with a Staff (1631)
* Christ on the Cross (1631)
* Old Man with a Gold Chain (c. 1631)
* Philosopher in Meditation (1632)
* The Abduction of Europa (1632)
* Adoration of the Magi (1632–1633)
* The Shipbuilder and his Wife (1633)
* The Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633) 2
* A Lady and Gentleman in Black (1633)
* Raising of the Cross (1633)
* Descent from the Cross (1633)
* Diana Bathing with her Nymphs with Actaeon and Callisto (1634)
* Flora (1634)
* Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes (1634)
* Descent from the Cross (1634)
* Belshazzar's Feast (1635)
* Minerva (1635)
* The Prodigal Son in the Brothel (c. 1635)
* Raising of the Cross (study) (c. 1635)
* The Rape of Ganymede (1635)
* The Entombment of Christ (1635)
* Samson Threatening His Father-In-Law (1635)
* The Standard Bearer (1636)
* Danaë (1636)
* The Blinding of Samson (1636)
* Landscape with Arched Bridge (c. 1636-1637)
* The Preacher Eleazar Swalmius (1637)
* The Archangel Raphael Leaving Tobias' Family (1637)
* The Stone Bridge (1637)
* The Wedding Feast of Samson (1638)
* Landscape with the Good Samaritan (1638)
* Still Life with Peacocks (c. 1639)
* The Girl in a Picture Frame (1641)
* The Scholar at the Lectern (1641)
* The Night Watch (1642)
* Concord of the State (1642)
* David and Jonathan (1642)
* Boaz and Ruth (1643)
* The Woman Taken in Adultery (1644)
* Joseph's Dream (1645)
* Holy Family with Angels (1645)
* The Mill (1645–1648)
* Abraham Serving the Three Angels (1646)
* Susanna and the Elders (1647)
* Head of Christ (1648)
* The Kitchen Maid (1651)
* Descent from the Cross (1650–1652)
* Saul and David (c. 1652) 1
* Aristotle with a Bust of Homer (1653)
* A Woman Bathing in a Stream (1654)
* Bathsheba at Her Bath (1654)
* The Polish Rider (1655) 1
* Slaughtered Ox (1655)
* Pallas Athena (c. 1655)
* The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Deijman (1656)
* Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (1656)
* Courtesan at her Mirror (1657)
* Saint Bartholomew (1657)
* Moses Breaking the Tablets of the Law (1659)
* Ahasuerus and Haman at the Feast of Esther (1660)
* The Denial of Saint Peter (1660)
* Titus as a Monk (1660)
* The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis (1661)
* Saint Matthew and the Angel (1661)
* Syndics of the Drapers' Guild (1662)
* Homer Dictating his Verses (1663)
* The Jewish Bride (1664)
* Lucretia (1664) 1
* David and Uriah (c. 1665)
* Young Woman with a Lapdog (1665)
* Lucretia (1666)
* The Return of the Prodigal Son (1662–1669)
* Simeon in the Temple (c. 1669)
* Landscape with a Castle

Portraits|

* Portrait of Nicolaes Ruts (1631)
* Portrait of a Man (1632)
* Portrait of a Woman (1632)
* Portrait of Jacob de Gheyn III (1632)
* Portrait of a 62-year-old Woman (1632)
* Portrait of a Man Rising from His Chair (1633)
* Portrait of a Young Woman with a Fan (1633)
* Oval Portrait of a Woman (1633)
* Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Gold Chain (1634)
* Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit (1634)
* Portrait of Petronella Buys (1635)
* A Polish Nobleman (1637)
* Portrait of Maria Trip (1639)
* Portrait of Jan Six (1654)
* Portrait of Floris Soop (1654)
* Portrait of Catharina Hooghsaet (1657)
* Portrait of a Man (1657)
* Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo (1658)
* Portrait of Dirck van Os (c. 1662)
* Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse (1665–1667)

Self-portraits|

* Self-Portrait with Dishevelled Hair (1628)
* Rembrandt Laughing (1628)
* Self-Portrait (1629)
* Self-Portrait in a Gorget (c.1629)
* Portrait of a Young Man with a Golden Chain (1635) (disputed)
* Self-Portrait Wearing a White Feathered Bonnet (1635)
* Self-Portrait with an Architectural Background (c. 1639)
* Self-Portrait at the Age of 34 (1640)
* Self-Portrait (1652)
* Self-Portrait in a Black Beret and Gold Chain (1654)
* Self-Portrait (1658)
* Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar (1659)
* Self-Portrait (1660)
* Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul (1662)
* Self-Portrait as Zeuxis Laughing (1662)
* Self-Portrait with Two Circles (1665–1669)
* Self-Portrait (c. 1669)
* Self-Portrait at the Age of 63 (1669)

Drawings and prints
(including etchings)|

* Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (1634)
* Bearded Old Man (1634)
* River with Trees (1634)
* The Artist and his Model (1639)
* The Death of the Virgin (1639)
* The Mill (1641)
* The Three Trees (1643)
* The State Bed (1646)
* Portrait of Jan Six (1647)
* Hundred Guilder Print (1647–1649)
* Conus Marmoreus (1650)
* Goldweigher's Field (1651)
* Doctor Fautrieus (1652)
* Descent from the Cross by Torchlight (1652)
* The Three Crosses (1653)
* The Virgin and Child with a Cat (1654)
* Christ Presented to the People (1655)
* Mughal drawings

Collections|

* Rembrandt House Museum
* Rembrandt in Southern California

Rembrandt studies|

* Connoisseurs and scholars
* Rembrandt Research Project
* Rembrandt catalogues raisonnés
* 1908
* 1935
* 1968
* 1986

Related people|

* Pupils and followers
* Saskia van Uylenburgh (wife, model)
* Titus van Rijn (son, model)
* Geertje Dircx (mistress, model)
* Hendrickje Stoffels (mistress, model)
* Jacob Isaacsz. van Swanenburg (teacher)
* Pieter Lastman (teacher)
* Jan Lievens (colleague and friend)
* Hendrick van Uylenburgh (art dealer, patron)
* Jan Six (art collector, patron)
* Thomas Kaplan (art collector)

Works about
Rembrandt|

* Cultural depictions of Rembrandt
* Rembrandt's Daughter (1827 painting)
* The Tragedy of a Great (1920 film)
* Rembrandt (1936 film)
* Rembrandt (1940 film)
* Rembrandt (1942 film)
* Rembrandt: A Self-Portrait (1954 documentary film)
* Rembrandt fecit 1669 (1977 film)
* The Anatomy Lesson (1995 novel)
* Rembrandt (1999 film)
* Stealing Rembrandt (2003 film)
* Nightwatching (2007 film)
* I Am Rembrandt's Daughter (2008 novel)

Namesakes|

* Rembrandt, Iowa
* Rembrandtplein
* Rembrandtpark
* Rembrandt (crater)
* Rembrandt (train)
* Vereniging Rembrandt (foundation)

* 1 Contested
* 2 Stolen in 1990

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* RKD ID
* Bildindex

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