The Road to Calvary 

"The Road to Calvary" was created by the Limbourg brothers, around the early 15th century, using paint on vellum. As we observe the procession leading Christ to his crucifixion, it’s important to consider how the Limbourg brothers' own experiences as artists working for wealthy patrons might have shaped this image. In a society deeply structured by class and faith, religious art served not only as a spiritual guide but also as a reflection of the social order. Note how the opulence of the city contrasts with the suffering of Christ. The work invites us to contemplate not just the physical ordeal of Christ, but the intersection of power, innocence, and sacrifice. The tearful figures of the Virgin Mary and the other women exemplify how gender and emotion were intertwined in depictions of religious events. The painting invites reflection on how faith, power, and identity converged in the medieval world, challenging us to consider the ongoing resonance of these themes in our own time.