The painting depicts a procession of the Cross in a small village in the mountains of Italy. The procession begins from a small church on the right. The altar boy with the lantern has stopped to wait for the priest who can barely walk and who is shielded from the sun with a parasol by another server boy. Some village boys stand on the stairs carved in the rock, holding candles. A small flock of worshippers consisting of an old woman, a toddler and three women trails behind two singing monks.

The painter managed to capture the character in the face expressions of the congregation and paid much attention to the details of architecture, rocks, clouds in the sky and a sun-lit valley deep below.

Fyodor Bronnikov, the author of this picture, had been keen on painting since childhood. After the death of his father, an icon painter, 16-year-old Fyodor went to Saint Petersburg with a wagon-train, dreaming of entering the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Bronnikov’s aptitude for art drew the attention of the famous sculptor Peter Clodt who arranged for him to audit painting classes at the Academy. Bronnikov entered the class of Alexei Markov, professor of historical painting, in 1845. In 1853 Bronnikov graduated from the Academy with the Great medal for “Mother of Jesus, Joy of All Who Sorrow”. The medal came with the qualification of a painter and a stipend to study in Italy, where he would spend his next years and work a lot.

Bronnikov preferred historical painting, although he also did portraits of affluent citizens, Italian landscapes, scenes from village or city streets, and genre paintings. His canvases were bought by the Imperial family who were enthusiastic about his work; his paintings could be found in the collections of Emperor Alexander III and his Danish mother-in-law, Queen Louise.

Bronnikov was awarded with all titles of the Imperial Academy, including the titles of academician, professor and honorary member of the Academy. His work was greatly valued among Russian aristocracy. He often participated in the Travelling Art Exhibits (Peredvizhniki).