Elijah Pierce, Christ Carrying the Cross, ca. 1972, carved, painted and varnished wood with glitter mounted on painted corrugated cardboard with paper collage, painted stones and glitter, 24 3⁄4 x 20 x 7⁄8 in. (62.9 x 50.8 x 2.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.260
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Christ Carrying the Cross
- Artist
- Date
- ca. 1972
- Location
- Dimensions
- 24 3⁄4 x 20 x 7⁄8 in. (62.9 x 50.8 x 2.2 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- carved, painted and varnished wood with glitter mounted on painted corrugated cardboard with paper collage, painted stones and glitter
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Religion — angel
- Religion — New Testament — Crucifixion
- Religion — New Testament — Christ
- Object Number
- 1986.65.260
Artwork Description
Elijah Pierce described his carvings as sermons, and used them to teach people about the Bible (Elijah Pierce Wood Carver, The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, 1973, exhibition catalogue). This carving shows Christ with the cross just before he was crucified. Pierce filled the image with swirling colors and gesturing figures to evoke the crowds of people who witnessed Jesus’s crucifixion, although it is difficult to tell whether they are cheering or weeping over his impending death.
Works by this artist (5 items)
Artist
Dateca. 1972
carved, painted and varnished wood with glitter mounted on painted corrugated cardboard with paper collage, painted stones and glitter