# Christ Carrying the Cross

**Sebastiano del Piombo** (Italian, c. 1485–1547)  
c. 1515–17  
Oil on panel  
118 × 92 cm (46 7/16 × 36 1/4 in.); Framed: 143.6 × 117.5 × 8.3 cm (56 1/2 × 46 1/4 × 3 1/4 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2016.15. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/234781).

## About this work

In the 1510s, Sebastiano del Piombo traveled to Rome, where he was drawn into the lively competition between the period's two great luminaries, Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo took Sebastiano under his wing, teaching him his monumental style and providing drawings for commissions. This painting represents a popular composition by Piombo, who became one of the most distinguished painters working during the High Renaissance.

_Text from the Art Institute of Chicago._

Sebastiano del Piombo painted this in about 1515–17, aged about 30. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

A work made of oil on panel.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Oil on panel.** Oil paint on prepared wooden boards, usually oak in the north and poplar in Italy. The rigid, smooth surface suits fine detail and thin, glowing glazes.
- **Oil paint.** Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.

### [Sebastiano del Piombo](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/sebastiano-del-piombo)

Italian, c. 1485–1547

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: Italy
- The artist was about 30
- Real size: about 46 × 36 in (118 × 92 cm). The 30 × 40 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 16th century
- Movement: [Renaissance](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/renaissance)
- Subjects: Jesus, Christianity, Christian subjects, blue, horses, landscape, men, soldiers
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/367.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/367/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/christ-carrying-the-cross-aic-234781).