Tickets for Amy Sherald: American Sublime are sold out.

Exhibition Guide

A black line drawing on a white background depicts two figures. One carries a cross while the other reaches for it.

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

A black line drawing on a white background depicts two figures. One carries a cross while the other reaches for it.

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Relieves Jesus of His Cross

  • Audio

    Station 5: Prayer

    Read Transcript

Art Object Info

Henri Matisse

Medium:
Black enamel brushwork on ceramic panel
Date:
1951

Visual Description:

Station 5 is positioned on the far right of the center row. It is approximately four tiles high and five tiles wide. In this scene, two figures representing Jesus and Simon of Cyrene, appear on either side of a cross. In the Stations of the Cross story, Simon observes Jesus on his journey and is compelled by Roman soldiers to carry the cross for him for a short distance. One figure, Jesus, carries the cross over his left shoulder while the other, Simon, appears to reach for it or pull it away from the other figure. Both figures lean sharply to the right as if pulling the cross in that direction. The cross, in contrast, angles sharply to the left. Together, the cross and the figures create a dynamic X-shaped composition amplifying the feeling of conflicting forces.

BMA

Station 5: Simon of Cyrene Relieves Jesus of His Cross

Henri Matisse
Date:
1951
Medium:
Black enamel brushwork on ceramic panel

Visual Description:

Station 5 is positioned on the far right of the center row. It is approximately four tiles high and five tiles wide. In this scene, two figures representing Jesus and Simon of Cyrene, appear on either side of a cross. In the Stations of the Cross story, Simon observes Jesus on his journey and is compelled by Roman soldiers to carry the cross for him for a short distance. One figure, Jesus, carries the cross over his left shoulder while the other, Simon, appears to reach for it or pull it away from the other figure. Both figures lean sharply to the right as if pulling the cross in that direction. The cross, in contrast, angles sharply to the left. Together, the cross and the figures create a dynamic X-shaped composition amplifying the feeling of conflicting forces.

BMA