The Stations of the Cross (Newman)

Painting series by Barnett Newman

The Stations of the Cross

Artist| Barnett Newman
Year| 1958–1966
Medium| Magna, oil and acrylic on canvas
Movement| Abstract expressionism
Location| National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

The Stations of the Cross is a series of fifteen abstract expressionist paintings created between 1958 and 1966 by Barnett Newman, often considered to be his greatest work.[1] It consists of fourteen paintings, each named after one of Jesus's fourteen Stations, followed by a coda, Be II. Unlike most depictions of the Stations of the Cross, Newman did not intend for this to be a narrative journey of Jesus's suffering. Rather, it was intended to evoke the central question of the Passion, lema sabachthani (why have you forsaken me?).[2] The secular, Jewish Newman used this central theme of Christian theology to probe the human condition rather than towards its historical purpose of devotion or worship.[3]

The series has been seen as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.[4]

## History

[edit]

The painting series was unveiled at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1966, in an exhibition titled The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani.[5][6][7]

The National Gallery of Art bought the paintings in 1987 from Newman's widow for an estimated $5 to $7 million, through a donation from Robert and Jane Meyerhoff.[8][9] They were put on permanent display.[10]

## Paintings

[edit]

Image  | Title  | Year  | Medium

|
|
|

| First Station | 1958  | Magna on canvas
| Second Station | 1958  | Magna on canvas
| Third Station | 1960  | Oil on canvas
| Fourth Station | 1960  | Oil on canvas
| Fifth Station | 1962  | Oil on canvas
| Sixth Station | 1962  | Oil on canvas
| Seventh Station | 1964  | Oil on canvas
| Eighth Station | 1964  | Oil on canvas
| Ninth Station | 1964  | Acrylic on canvas
| Tenth Station | 1965  | Magna on canvas
| Eleventh Station | 1965  | Acrylic on canvas
| Twelfth Station | 1965  | Acrylic on canvas
| Thirteenth Station | 1965/1966  | Acrylic on canvas
| Fourteenth Station | 1965/1966  | Acrylic and Duco on canvas
| Be II | 1961/1964  | Acrylic and oil on canvas

## Exhibition history

[edit]

Dates  | Museum  | City  | Show

|
|
|

April 20 – June 19, 1966  | Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | New York City  | The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani[5][6][7]
October 21, 1971 – January 10, 1972  | Museum of Modern Art | New York City  | Barnett Newman[11][12]
June 1, 1978 – January 14, 1979  | National Gallery of Art | Washington, DC  | American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist[13][14][15]
May 31 – July 13, 1980  | Schloss Charlottenburg | Berlin  | Signs of Faith, Spirit of the Avant-Garde: Religious Tendencies in 20th Century Art
March 24 – July 7, 2002  | Philadelphia Museum of Art | Philadelphia  | Barnett Newman[16]
September 19, 2002 – January 5, 2003  | Tate Modern | London
June 7 – October 12, 2014  | de Young Museum | San Francisco  | Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert + Jane Meyerhoff Collection[17]
March 14 – June 7, 2015  | Miho Museum | Kyoto  | Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross[18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Barnett Newman's Masterpiece "Stations of the Cross" is Focus of Fifth "In the Tower" Exhibition at National Gallery of Art, June 10, 2012–February 24, 2013". www.nga.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
2. ^ Kennicott, Philip (2023-05-24). "Barnett Newman's 'Stations of the Cross' draws pilgrims to the National Gallery". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
3. ^ Floyd, Emily (2013-05-24). "Barnett Newman, The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachtani". mavcor.yale.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
4. ^ Menachem Wecker (August 1, 2012). "His Cross To Bear. Barnett Newman Dealt With Suffering in 'Zips'". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
5. ^ a b "Newman exhibit at Guggenheim". The Jersey Journal. Jersey City, NJ. April 12, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ a b Walter Barker (June 12, 1966). "The Passion without the image". St. Louis Post-Dispatch – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ a b Lawrence Alloway (1966). Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
8. ^ Jo Ann Lewis (February 23, 1987). "Jack Cowart: The century's trove". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
9. ^ Jacqueline Trescott (March 4, 2008). "Meyerhoff estate to become wing of National Gallery". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
10. ^ Brenson, Michael (March 18, 1991). "National Gallery puts its gifts on display". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
11. ^ Lawrence Alloway (December 1971). "Color, Culture, the Stations: Notes on the Barnett Newman Memorial Exhibition". Artforum. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
12. ^ "Barnett Newman". Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
13. ^ Paul Richard (June 1, 1978). "Art to match a masterpiece". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
14. ^ Paul Richard (June 10, 1978). "Seven abstract American heroes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
15. ^ E.A. Carmean, Jr.; Eliza E. Rathbone (1978). American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist. National Gallery of Art. p. 186.
16. ^ "Barnett Newman". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
17. ^ "Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert + Jane Meyerhoff Collection". Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
18. ^ "Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross". Miho Museum. Retrieved 2024-11-03.

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Barnett Newman

Paintings|

* Vir Heroicus Sublimis (1950-51)
* Black Fire I (1961)
* Voice of Fire (1967)

Painting series|

* The Stations of the Cross (1958–1966)
* Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue (1966–1970)

Sculptures|

* Broken Obelisk (1963–1967)

Related|

* Abstract expressionism
* Color field

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