Stations of the Cross - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

WAG 2019.8.6

Information

Burke painted these while he was a Prisoner of War in Milag Nord camp in Germany during World War II. Milag is short for Marine-Internierten-Lager (naval internment camp), and Nord is German for ‘north’. Burke painted the 'Stations of the Cross' for the camp chapel which was constructed by the prisoners in one of the Nissan huts. The Stations of the Cross represent a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of his last day, beginning with his condemnation. Here, having been whipped and beaten, a disciple come forward to wipe the spit and blood from Christ's face.