Stations Of The Cross
The Stations of the Cross are a series of 14 devotional images or plaques depicting Jesus Christ’s journey to his crucifixion, traditionally prayed during Lent, especially on Good Friday. Each station represents a specific event, from Jesus’ condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his burial, allowing believers to reflect on his suffering and sacrifice. This practice originated in the Middle Ages to help Christians spiritually walk the path of Christ’s Passion, particularly for those unable to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Way of the Cross (2021) - Jerusalem
Produced by the Christian Media Center, Jerusalem
Antarctica
Photo provided by Tim Hewette, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions, https://antarctic-logistics.com/
Wilhelm and Franz Albermann - Germany
This incredible work of art is renowned as one of the most captivating displays Jesus’s trial and crucifixion. The detail and emotion exhibited in the sculpturing by brothers Wilhelm and Franz Albermann ca.1905 is truly remarkable and a testament to their master craftsmanship. Each scene brings to life the sorrow of those who were there to witness Jesus’s suffering and sacrifice.
Remarkably, these carvings survived the Allied bombing during WWII mostly intact. The Albermann brothers made only one set, for St Ludwig Church in Darmstadt, Germany.
The above images were supplied by Mark Gabrielle artisangranite.com whose company sells a slightly modified bronze version of these Stations.
Tanay Church - Philippines
Tanay Church, officially known as San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish Church, is a historic Roman Catholic church in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines. Built in 1773 during the Spanish colonial period, the church is a remarkable example of Baroque architecture, featuring thick stone walls and intricate carvings. It has withstood earthquakes and historical upheavals, serving as a testament to the town’s rich religious heritage. Declared a National Cultural Treasure, the church remains a significant pilgrimage site, attracting visitors for its architectural beauty and deep spiritual history.
One of its most notable features is its 14 Stations of the Cross, a series of wooden relief carvings that depict the Passion of Christ. Unlike traditional European-style stations, these artworks incorporate Filipino cultural elements, such as native facial features, traditional garments, and anachronistic details like a Pharisee wearing spectacles. This unique representation reflects the blending of local artistry with Christian devotion, making the Tanay Church’s Stations of the Cross a distinctive and revered aspect of Philippine religious art.
Images were provided by Dr. Raymond Feliciano and Alex D.R. Castro. For more details, please visit Alex’s blog here.
Federico Severino - Italy
Italian artist Federico Severino (b. 1953) was commissioned in 2009 to create a series of 14 bronze bas-reliefs depicting the Stations of the Cross to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of the Pantheon’s dedication as a Christian church. One set of these sculptures was installed in the Rotunda of the Pantheon in Rome in 2010. The second set was acquired by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas, where it was installed in 2018. Severino’s work is noted for its expressive and emotive style, capturing the profound moments of Christ’s Passion.
Images were provided by a friend of sacredworldwideart.com. For more details on the artist, please visit liquidartsystems.com. We are also working on dedicated artist page for Federico Severino. Please check back with the website in the future.
John Dunn - Australia
The “Stolen Generation” refers to a period in Australia’s history when government policies removed Aboriginal children from their birth families and placed them with adopted families. This happened from the mid-1800s to the 1970s. Artist John Dunn himself was caught up in the pain of the Stolen Generation. He did not find his birth family until he was in his 40s, after many years of searching. The process of painting the story of the Stations of the Cross was for him a personal discovery of his Aboriginality and a reconciling of his own hurt and isolation.
Please visit John Dunn’s dedicated page here.
Bruce Onobrakpeya - Nigeria
Onobrakpeya gained renown in the 1950s as a student at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria City, northern Nigeria. He became a founding member of an influential collective of artists later known as the “Zaria Radicals,” committed to decolonizing visual arts and reasserting Nigerian artistic methods and practices in synergy with Western ones. The collective inspired the guiding mission of his work.
In 1966, Father Kevin Caroll commissioned Onobrakpeya and other artists to produce new depictions of Christian stories and Catholic iconography. Onobrakpeya produced a series of prints titled the “Stations of the Cross,” a reimagination of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Please visit Bruce Onobrakpeya’s dedicated page here.
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel - Argentina
In 1980, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in defense of human rights. In 1992, he created 15 Stations of the Cross to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the colonization of America. These stations were distributed in Europe and came to the attention of a Quaker of Presbyterian provenance, Alastair McIntosh (www.alastairmcintosh.com). McIntosh first encountered the Stations while serving on the management committee of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund in the 1990s and saw the Stations as reflecting the Catholic Church’s “rich and challenging” teachings on social justice .
Through McIntosh’s kindness and diligence, Perez Esquivel’s Stations which originally appeared as 35 mm photographic slides, and then subsequently disappeared seemingly into oblivion, were digitized and presented on the worldwide web where we found them. McIntosh also wrote a commentary for each station based on original text from the agencies that first distributed the images. To see McIntosh’s full commentaries, please click here.
Please visit Adolfo Pérez Esquivel’s dedicated page here.