For an artist who is best known for his powerful landscapes and studies of the figure, he chose Christ the Savior, tied to a column during the flagellation. While the simplified forms of the cross-armed figure suggests an image of a potter at his wheel, a black line, extended from Christ's raised right heal sic, is a key to this enigmatic painting. During their visit, while Mrs. Avery went shopping, the artist remained behind in their hotel room. Avery became fascinated with a porcelain figurine on the nightstand and painted it. A metal pin attached the Christ figure to the porcelain's base.

from Porter, "25th Anniversary of the Snite Museum of Art" (American Art Review, 2005)