For more than two decades from the beginning of his career, Carreño failed to gain royal favour due to the dominance at court of the King's painter, Velázquez, who was notoriously jealous of competition. Having befriended Velázquez, he was granted a commission to execute a canvas of 'The Story of Pandora' for the Great Hall in the Alcázar at Madrid, which he began in April 1659. The date on the present crucifix suggests that it may have been executed with this royal patronage in view