'Jesus Takes Up His Cross (First Version)'
'Jesus Takes Up His Cross (First Version)'Category: Selected Recent Paintings by Chris Gollon
Artist: Chris Gollon
Subject: Study for Stations of the Cross
Year of Work: 2001
Media: acrylic on canvas
Size: 48" x 36"
£8,500. This painting is one of only 2 studies available for sale for Gollon's great Stations of the Cross series. It is an official study for a major public commission.This painting Chris Gollon produced as a very first version of 'Stations of the Cross (II): Jesus Takes Up His Cross', and before he took the decision to use his own son as the model for Jesus in his large commission for the historic Church of St John on Bethnal Green (see Commissions page of chrisgollon.com).
This is a particularly affecting image since Jesus is alone, and looking up as if to the awful journey facing him. In the version Chris Gollon finally settled on, Jesus is surrounded by his tormentors. This is a quieter painting and finds Jesus by water with a strong landscape behind. Chris Gollon referred back to the sky in this work to assist him in darkening the skies above Jesus at Station XII 'Jesus Dies On The Cross'.
Using thick, black acrylic paint, and no modeling in light and shade, remarkably, the artist has nonetheless given a strong impression of there being a body inside the black tunic, and one which tenses to hold the harsh weight of the Cross.
To purchase this work, or for more information, please contact us.
