Stations of the Cross (VI): Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

'Stations of the Cross (VI): Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus'

Category: Paintings

Artist: Chris Gollon

Subject: Installation

Year of Work: 2005

Media: mixed media on canvas

Size: 40" x 30"

Chris Gollon's 'Stations of the Cross' in Church of St John on Bethnal Green, London.

This painting is part of a commission from the Church of England accepted by Chris Gollon to paint 14 Stations of the Cross for a grade-one listed church in London, designed by Sir John Soane. More details on the series of works to which this painting belongs are on the Commissions page of this website.

There is no stained glass in the Church of St John on Bethnal Green, London, but very large windows along the southern sunlit nave. Therefore, Stations III-VI are obliged to compete with the direct sunlight streaming through the large, clear windows and into the interior of the church. Gollon has chosen to use electric yellow backgrounds to compete with this, but his skies (in the earlier Stations) also convey the heat and hardship Jesus suffers on his last journey. Gollon has used his wife Anne as the model for Veronica. Although the figure of Jesus seems physically drained of energy and life, the startling face which appears on her cloth, seems more alive than a simple impression, and perhaps hints at the Resurrection.

This painting was funded by congregation members David Perring and Doreen Haycock.