The entire Passion story is an exceptionally important part of Christian art - as it is to Christianity itself. All events from Jesus' arrest via the crowning of thorns, the sorrowful walk down Via Dolorosa and the following crucifixion have traditionally been divided according to a number of key events throughout the Passion of Christ.

It is not only the supernatural occurrences during the Passion that has enticed artists to produce captivating artworks, but just as important are the stories of the very real and very human sufferings that Jesus endured in the trials following His arrest.

The terrible crowning of Jesus with Thorns is one of the most common motives in Passion-related art and the title "Crowning with Thorns" or "Crowning of Thorns" is used for numerous famous paintings by similarly famous artists from the middle ages until today. An example of such a painting is this one by the Italian master Carvaggio from the early 17th century.

Art depicting the crucifixion itself is also commonly divided into different key events , among them when Jesus walks down Via Dolorosa and receives help from Simon of Cyrene.

A story that is lesser known among many present-day protestants but has played an important part in the Catholic tradition is the one of Saint Veronica, who took pity of Jesus and wiped his face with a cloth; the cloth was miraculously imprinted with the face of Jesus and was the starting point for the legend of the Veil of Veronica, which is in many ways related to the Shroud of Turin.