Christ Carrying the Cross is an oil painting by El Greco, produced early in his Toledo period circa de 1580.

[1] The picture depicts Christ in a moment of personal reflection as he carries the cross to his death, therefore committing the ultimate sacrifice for humankind.

In Italy, El Greco lived in Venice, and studied under Titian, one of the most profound Italian Renaissance artists.

[5]  After three years, El Greco moved from Venice to Rome to continue his studies and works under the patronage of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese.

[6]  El Greco also was inspired by the techniques and ideals of the Renaissance period, specifically the idea that a perfect human body was a pure connection to the divine.

However, El Greco's figures were often distorted and elongated, contrasting the sheer proportionate perfection of the Renaissance bodily form.

Greco often had a tendency to use deep, full, rich colors to motivate the emotional expression in the piece to affect the viewers mood.

[2] In Christ Carrying the Cross, there are a multitude of minute details that help narrate the raw, expressive emotion of the work.

[11] In this work, the Northern Italian per narration allows Christ to beg for mercy while also having an understanding of his role in God's plan to forgive humankind for their sins.

[12] This painting depicts a moment along the way where Christ stops amid a storm to communicate and reflect to the heavens before committing the ultimate sacrifice for humankind.

The storm clouds also have breaks of light, allowing the viewer to understand Christ's acceptance of his sacrifice as he communicates and reflects with the heavens.