Christ Carrying the Cross

The work from roughly 1516 depicts Jesus carrying the cross above a dark background, surrounded by numerous heads, most of which are characterized by grotesque faces. There are a total of eighteen portraits, plus one on the holy shroud, on which is a depiction of Jesus. Jesus wears a woeful expression, his eyes closed and his head reclinate. In the bottom right corner is the impenitent thief, who sneers against three men who are mocking him. The penitent thief is at top right: he is portrayed with very pale skin and is being confessed by a horribly ugly monk. In the bottom left corner, we see Veronica with the holy shroud, her eyes half-open and her face looking back. Finally, at the top left, is Simon of Cyrene, his face upturned.