The Elevation of the Cross Rubens

The Elevation of the Cross is a large triptych in oil on panel and a much smaller oil on paper painting. Both pieces were painted by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp, Belgium, the original in 1610 and the latter in 1638. The original is a winged altarpiece, with the outside of the hinged wings also painted. These can be folded over the central panel, giving an 'open view' and a 'closed view' The smaller version is now in the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada. Another smaller Triptych with a different composition, and an oil study, are in the Louvre in Paris. In the Episcopal Palace of Segovia, an 18th-century tapestry replicating this triptyCh is preserved. The painting is an early attempt by Ruben's to employ the intensity of the Baroque style. The three panels together work harmoniously, creating a continuous scene. The setting is dark and restless as the group of spectators, soldiers, horses, and the strained bodies of the executioners surround the soon-to-be crucified Christ.