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The Stations of the Cross (Newman)

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Painting series by Barnett Newman
The Stations of the Cross
ArtistBarnett Newman
Year1958–1966
MovementAbstract expressionism
LocationNational Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

The Stations of the Cross is a series of fifteen abstract expressionist paintings created between 1958 and 1966 by Barnett Newman, often considered to be his greatest work. It consists of fourteen paintings, each named after one of Jesus's fourteen Stations, followed by a coda, Be II. Unlike most depictions of the Stations of the Cross, Newman did not intend for this to be a narrative journey of Jesus's suffering. Rather, it was intended to evoke the central question of the Passion, lema sabachthani (why have you forsaken me?). The secular, Jewish Newman used this central theme of Christian theology to probe the human condition rather than towards its historical purpose of devotion or worship.

The series has been seen as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.

History

The painting series was unveiled at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1966, in an exhibition titled The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani.

The National Gallery of Art bought the paintings in 1987 from Newman's widow for an estimated $5 to $7 million, through a donation from Robert and Jane Meyerhoff. They were put on permanent display.

Paintings

Image Title Year Medium
First Station 1958 Magna on canvas
Second Station 1958 Magna on canvas
Third Station 1960 Oil on canvas
Fourth Station 1960 Oil on canvas
Fifth Station 1962 Oil on canvas
Sixth Station 1962 Oil on canvas
Seventh Station 1964 Oil on canvas
Eighth Station 1964 Oil on canvas
Ninth Station 1964 Acrylic on canvas
Tenth Station 1965 Magna on canvas
Eleventh Station 1965 Acrylic on canvas
Twelfth Station 1965 Acrylic on canvas
Thirteenth Station 1965/1966 Acrylic on canvas
Fourteenth Station 1965/1966 Acrylic and Duco on canvas
Be II 1961/1964 Acrylic and oil on canvas


Exhibition history

Dates Museum City Show
April 20 – June 19, 1966 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York City The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani
October 21, 1971 – January 10, 1972 Museum of Modern Art New York City Barnett Newman
June 1, 1978 – January 14, 1979 National Gallery of Art Washington, DC American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist
May 31 – July 13, 1980 Schloss Charlottenburg Berlin Signs of Faith, Spirit of the Avant-Garde: Religious Tendencies in 20th Century Art
March 24 – July 7, 2002 Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia Barnett Newman
September 19, 2002 – January 5, 2003 Tate Modern London
June 7 – October 12, 2014 de Young Museum San Francisco Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert + Jane Meyerhoff Collection
March 14 – June 7, 2015 Miho Museum Kyoto Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross

References

  1. "Barnett Newman's Masterpiece "Stations of the Cross" is Focus of Fifth "In the Tower" Exhibition at National Gallery of Art, June 10, 2012–February 24, 2013". www.nga.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. Kennicott, Philip (2023-05-24). "Barnett Newman's 'Stations of the Cross' draws pilgrims to the National Gallery". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  3. Floyd, Emily (2013-05-24). "Barnett Newman, The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachtani". mavcor.yale.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  4. Menachem Wecker (August 1, 2012). "His Cross To Bear. Barnett Newman Dealt With Suffering in 'Zips'". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  5. ^ "Newman exhibit at Guggenheim". The Jersey Journal. Jersey City, NJ. April 12, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Walter Barker (June 12, 1966). "The Passion without the image". St. Louis Post-Dispatch – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Lawrence Alloway (1966). Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross: Lema Sabachthani. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
  8. Jo Ann Lewis (February 23, 1987). "Jack Cowart: The century's trove". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  9. Jacqueline Trescott (March 4, 2008). "Meyerhoff estate to become wing of National Gallery". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  10. Michael Brenson (March 18, 1991). "National Gallery puts its gifts on display". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  11. Lawrence Alloway (December 1971). "Color, Culture, the Stations: Notes on the Barnett Newman Memorial Exhibition". Artforum. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  12. "Barnett Newman". Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  13. Paul Richard (June 1, 1978). "Art to match a masterpiece". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  14. Paul Richard (June 10, 1978). "Seven abstract American heroes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  15. E.A. Carmean, Jr.; Eliza E. Rathbone (1978). American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist. National Gallery of Art. p. 186.
  16. "Barnett Newman". Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  17. "Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert + Jane Meyerhoff Collection". Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  18. "Barnett Newman: The Stations of the Cross". Miho Museum. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
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