NAVIGATION

The image of Christ seated on a stone awaiting crucifixion is a particular invention of late medieval northern European Catholic piety. Known as ‘Christ on the Cold Stone’ or as ‘Christ at Rest on Calvary’ the image was designed to break up the medieval passion narrative into another individual focus for devotion and meditation. Christ is momentarily withdrawn from the events leading inexorably to his martyrdom so that the devout might contemplate the depth of his psychological and physical anguish. His pose with his cheek resting on his hand recalls the classical representations of melancholy and conveys the inconsolable sorrow of the seated, thinking saviour.