Nicolaos Tzafouris (ca. 1455–1500/1501), Christ Bearing the Cross, 15th century

This image by Nicolaos Tzafouris (ca. 1455–1500/1501), who worked on Crete when the island was under Venetian control, shows Christ carrying the cross to Golgatha. Many Cretan icons display both Byzantine and Latin features. In this icon the Greek inscription type describes a Byzantine icon type while the representation of the soldiers exhibits typical roman markers, e.g. the soldier in front of Jesus wears a contemporary Italian armor while the armors of those behind him are of Byzantine or Cretan origin.

Nicolaos Tzafouris (ca. 1455–1500/1501), Christ Bearing the Cross, oil and tempera on wood, gold ground, 69.2 x 54.6 cm, 15th century; source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437855, public domain.