Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s painting “The Procession to Calvary” is a masterpiece of Northern Renaissance religious painting. Painted in 1564 with oils on a large canvas, it is housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Bruegel’s second-largest known painting, “The Procession to Calvary,” was likely commissioned by his patron Niclaes Jonghelinck.
Depicting Christ carrying the Holy Cross in a vast landscape while leading a many-figured procession from Jerusalem to Golgotha, the painting includes contemporary scenery and is full of detail. The artwork showcases Bruegel’s exceptional talent for depicting landscapes and peasant scenes alongside narrative content.
“The Procession to Calvary” has faced significant challenges since its creation due to its size and weight coupled with technical difficulties handling such an extensive work of art. Moreover, it was saved from being moved from public display in a Yorkshire mansion through fundraising efforts by the Art Fund and National Trust.