The Carrying of the Cross, attributed to Jan Luyken (1649–1712)

Pen and brown ink, brown wash. 14 × 20.5?cm. With frame.

This drawing, attributed to Jan Luyken, depicts Christ’s ascent to Calvary carrying the cross, surrounded by a dense, agitated crowd. Luyken, the celebrated Dutch engraver, illustrator, and poet, is known for his richly expressive compositions, often focused on religious or historical themes.

The composition is notable for its dynamism: the viewer’s eye is led along the diagonal of the cross, the scene’s focal point, which cuts through the compact throng. Christ, at the center, bends under the weight of the wood, surrounded by soldiers, disciples, and mourning women. Luyken excels at suggesting a multitude through a profusion of quick, energetic strokes that convey the agitation, pain, and fervor of the scene. In the background, one can make out Golgotha already planted with crosses, and a stylized city—probably Jerusalem—anchoring the scene in its biblical context.
The graphic style, in pen and brown wash, is characteristic of Luyken: a fluid, almost calligraphic line that favors expression over anatomical precision. This choice heightens the work’s dramatic and mystical dimension, in keeping with the artist’s deeply religious mysticism.

Finally, the presence of a small dog in the foreground—a motif common in 17th?century art—adds a touch of everyday life and humanity to the scene, while also enhancing the sense of spatial depth. This drawing thus attests to Luyken’s ability to blend narrative, collective emotion, and anecdotal detail in a work that is both devout and vibrant.

Among other works, Jan Luyken is the author of The Riot of Lyon, 1621; a 1696 engraving from the Mermet collection is held in the Lyon Municipal Library.