Analysis of Procession to Calvary by Bazzi

Bazzi was influenced by many Renaissance artists. He brought together styles of the Renaissance and Mannerism periods. Mannerist elements included in Procession to Calvary are twisted, contorted, and elongated forms, the garish colors, and the mixed perspectives (Bob Jones Museum).

This painting tells the story of the journey Jesus made to Calvary with the cross on his back, escorted by the Roman soldiers. Jesus has the crown of thorns on his head and is on his knees, with his hand on a rock. It is as if we are at the exact moment where he is about to stand up to carry the cross. The person behind him is pulling his hair and looks as if he is about to punch Jesus in the face. There are men surrounding Jesus all around. One in front leading him by a rope collar, the one mentioned that is pulling his hair behind him, and one that is holding the other end of the cross. There is a soldier with a horse and five other people on the left. The scene is very congested and a lot of implied motion is happening, anticipating the Baroque. In the background you see a city that is on the water and a dark sky with a few rolling clouds, like a storm is coming or has just left. Jesus has a halo, but it is shown as a glow instead of a circular disk as in the previous paintings I analyzed.

The colors used are very bright and realistic. Skin tones vary from person to person and so does hair color. The flag is a very saturated red, as well as the yellow drapery. The drapery is very natural and flowing. The way it folds and the way that it is hanging on Jesus' frail body gives it a realistic feel. It is more form revealing, allows you to make out Jesus' whole left leg.

The musculature of the bodies helps emphasize motion and the appreciation that now exists for the human body. It even seems to be a little overstated, aiming at Greco-Roman themes. Facial expressions of the people are quite dramatic. Jesus looks weak, tired, and disappointed as he meets eyes with the man holding one end of his cross. The man that is in the lead, dragging Jesus with the rope collar, looks almost as if he's enjoying himself. His muscles are bulging as if he is working hard, but his face shows no struggle. The man that is pulling Jesus' hair looks angry as he is about to release his wound up punch. The hooded figure looks very sad and is looking away as if he/she cannot stand to witness the scene.

The cross creates two intersecting diagonal lines that achieve equilibrium. The flag that the man is holding creates another diagonal line. The figures on the upper left to the man who is about to punch Jesus make another diagonal. These diagonals are balanced by the vertical columns and horizontal horizon in the background.

I would suggest that this painting has tenebristic lighting even though the technique did not fully emerge until later. Jesus is mostly covered in light. The man with the flag is mostly in shadow, but his legs and arm are partly illuminated. The man who is about to hit Jesus has light showing on his forehead. The man who is holding the cross has light showing on his right arm and parts of his leg and face, with the rest of his body in shadow. And the yellow clothed man's hands looks like they are partially illuminated, along with part of his drapery, while the rest of him is in shadow. The hooded figure shows light on the face and the hood even casts a shadow. The rest of the figures are in the dark. Since the lighting is selectively lighting up parts of the painting, there is nothing above the figures casting a shadow, and no obvious source of light, which it is tenebrism.

Perspective is achieved through overlapping, scaling and atmospheric effects. Figures overlap and the city in the back is scaled considerably smaller than the foreground. It also looks like there are people on the beach and they are tiny to show that they are far away. The clouds and sky create atmospheric perspective, which also contributes to the mood of the painting.

I like this painting because it is anticipating Baroque themes while still sticking with themes that were typical of the time. I also like how deep emotion is on most of the people's faces, making them seem very real. I would suggest this painting because of the emotion and struggle it shows. It makes the story of the journey to Calvary more real to me.