Exhibition Guide
Henri Matisse. Detail of The Stations of the Cross, Chapel of the Rosary, Vence. All copyright-protected works by Henri Matisse © 2025 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: © Musée Matisse Nice/François Fernandez
Station 3: Jesus Falls for the First Time Visual Description
Station 3, positioned in the center of the lowest row, is approximately two tiles high and five tiles wide. In this part of the Stations of the Cross story, Jesus falls under the weight of the cross he is carrying. The scene shows the abstract, line-drawn fallen figure of Jesus with his legs and arms outstretched to the left and right, respectively, as if his knees, feet, and hands were touching the ground. A triangle represents the figure’s head, which appears tilted downward as if the figure is exhausted or suffering.