The Lives of the Saints in Art

Iconography of the Saints

2006-10-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of the saints who were presented by students in class, as well as the symbols associated with them:

David (Old Testament) (sling)
St. Sebastian (arrow)
Moses (Old Testament) (tablets of the 10 Commandments)
St. Peter (keys to the kingdom of heaven)
Adam and Eve (apple)
St. Stephen (First Martyr, in Acts) (rocks)
Assumption of Mary
Coronation of Mary
St. Mary Magdalen (jar of funeral ointment)

In addition, for our next exam, you should familiarize yourself with the following iconographical symbols, which will help you identify these important saints. Study the images carefully. On the test you will be asked to identify a saint by an image and to explain the origin and meaning of the iconographical symbol.

The Evangelists (these symbols come from the prophecy of Ezechiel 1:10: "And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the face of an ox, on the left side of all the four: and the face of an eagle over all the four."):

Matthew (winged man)
Mark (lion, sometimes with wings)
Luke (ox, sometimes with wings)
John (eagle)

The Apostles (see El Greco's series of paintings, Apostolados):

Andrew (transverse cross, like an X)
Bartholomew (knife or flayed skin)
James the Greater (shell, or pilgrim's staff)
James the Less (club or a book)
John (snake in a chalice)
Jude (also called Thaddeus) (halberd or ship)
Matthew (purses)
Peter (keys)
Philip (cross in hand, or staff with cross)
Simon (saw, often with a fish on a book)
Thomas (carpenter's square, lance)
Timothy (club and stones)
Matthias (double-bladed ax)
Paul (sword)

The Martyrs (palm as the general sign of martyrdom):

Agatha (tongs, shears, or breasts)
Agnes (lamb, palm)
Barbara (tower or ciborium)
Catherine (broken wheel)
Cecilia (organ or other musical instruments)
Clement, early pope (anchor)
Cosmas and Damian (a phial or box of ointment: Cosmas was a doctor)
Denis, first bishop of Paris (shown carrying his decapitated head)
Lawrence (iron grill)
Lucy (cord or eyes on a dish)

Other Saints:

Ambrose (beehive)
Anne, mother of Mary (door)
Augustine of Hippo (shell or pen)
Benedict (broken cup or raven)
Blaise (two candles in cross, or comb)
Francis of Assisi (Franciscan habit, with a wolf or the stigmata)
George (dragon)
Gregory I, the Great (tiara, crozier, dove on shoulder)
Helena, mother of Constantine (cross)
Jerome (lion)
John the Baptist (lamb, animal skin)
Joseph, spouse of Mary (plane or carpenter's square, with lily)
Teresa of Avila (flaming heart)

Other Symbols:

Pomegranate (Resurrection, bursting like the tomb): Botticelli, Madonna della Melagrana
Peacock (Resurrection, replaces feathers with brighter ones)
Lily (Easter)
Lamp (Word of God)
Daisy (innocence of child Jesus)
Rose (Nativity of Jesus)

For more informtion, see the excellent Patron Saints Index, particularly the Image Galleries of Saints.

Purification (February 2)

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Presentation of Christ in the Temple, mosaic in Santa Maria Maggiore, 432-440
Purification in the Temple, Ottonian manuscript, Regensburg, about 1030-1040
Presentation in the Temple, 1230-40, jamb sculptures in Reims Cathedral
Nicola Pisano, Presentation in the Temple, detail from the marble pulpit, Baptistry, Pisa (1260)
Purification in the Temple, Byzantine manuscript, Nicaea or Nicomedia, late 1200s
Giotto di Bondone, Presentation of Christ at the Temple, 1304-06, fresco in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
Giotto di Bondone (?), Presentation of Christ in the Temple, 1310s, fresco in the North transept, Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Presentation in the Temple, 1308-11, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
Giotto di Bondone, Presentation in the Temple, 1320-25, wood panel, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, The Presentation in the Temple, panel in the Uffizi, Florence (1342)
Gentile da Fabriano, Presentation of Christ in the Temple, wood panel in the Louvre (1423)
Presentation in the Temple, Russian icon, Novogorod Museum, 15th c.
Fra Angelico, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, 1440-41, fresco in the Convento di San Marco, Florence
Stefan Lochner, Presentation of Christ in the Temple, 1447, panel from the Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt
Rogier van der Weyden, St Columba Altarpiece (right panel), c. 1455, Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Giovanni Bellini, Presentation in the Temple, Galleria Querini Stampalia, Venice, c. 1459
Master of the Prado "Adoration of the Magi" (Netherlands), The Presentation in the Temple, c. 1470/1480, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Hans Memling, The Presentation in the Temple, 1463, oil on wood, National Gallery of Art, Washington
Raphael, The Presentation in the Temple (Oddi altar, predella), 1502-03, Pinacotheca, Vatican
Albrecht Dürer, Life of the Virgin: 12. The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, woodcut, 1505, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna
Vittore Carpaccio, Presentation in the Temple, Accademia, Venice, 1510
Titian, Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, 1539
Lorenzo Lotto, Presentation on the Temple, 1554-55, Palazzo Apostolica, Loreto
Simon Vouet, Presentation in the Temple, c. 1630, Musée du Louvre, Paris
Philippe de Champaigne, The Presentation in the Temple, 1648, Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
Rembrandt van Rijn, The Circumcision, 1661, National Gallery of Art
Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, Presentation in the Temple, oil on wood, 1671, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Charles LeBrun, Presentation of Christ in the Temple (c. 1680)
Jean Restout, La Présentation de Jesus au Temple et la Purification de la Vierge, 1735, Bordeaux

Take a look at this Outline of Christian Iconography.

The Purification in the Gospels

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This story is only in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2 (Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation):

21 And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord:

23 As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord:

24 And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons:

25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him.

26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

28 He also took him into his arms and blessed God and said

29 Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace:

30 Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

32 A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him.

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted.

35 And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity.

37 And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.

38 Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.

39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.

40 And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him.

The Virgin and the Holy Family

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This is a brief selection of unusual images of the Virgin Mary or the Holy Family.

The Virgin Pregnant with Jesus:

Piero della Francesca, Madonna del Parto (1467), Cappella del Cimitero, Monterchi, Italy, near Arezzo

Flight into Egypt:

Gislebertus, Flight into Egypt (1120-30), sculpture for Autun Cathedral

Madonna as Advocate (Haghiosoritissa):

Unknown Italian painter, The Madonna as Advocate (1150s), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Simone Martini, Madonna of Mercy (1308-10), Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
Lippo Memmi, Madonna of the Recommended (1350s), fresco in the Chapel of the Corporal, Duomo, Orvieto
Caravaggio, Madonna di Loreto (Madonna dei Pellegrini, 1603-05), S. Agostino, Rome

Madonna Nursing or with Young Child:

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Suckling Madonna (c. 1330), Palazzo Arcivescovile, Siena
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Madonna and Child (1340-45), Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan
Nino Pisano, Madonna del Latte (1360s), marble sculpture, S. Maria della Spina, Pisa
Nursing Madonna in Très Belles Heures of the Duc the Berry (1380-90), illumination, Bibliothèque Royale Albert 1er, Brussels
Nursing Madonna, Très Belles Heures du Duc de Berry (c. 1380), illumination, Museo Civico d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Madama, Turin
Jacopo Sansovino, Madonna del Parto (1518), marble sculpture, S. Agostino, Rome (second image
Giovanni di Agostino, Madonna with two Angels (1500s), San Bernardino, Siena
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Mary and Child with Angels Playing Music (1675), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

Reclining Madonna:

Arnolfo di Cambio, Madonna (1296-1302), marble sculpture meant to be a part of a Nativity group, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

See also The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages (from the Metropolitan Museum, New York) and Rare Portraits of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Blessed Virgin Mary

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Mary in the Golden Legend:

The Purification of Our Lady (vol. 4, February 2)
The Annunciation of Our Lady (vol. 4, March 25)
The Assumption of Our Lady (vol. 4, August 15)
The Nativity of Our Lady (vol. 5, September 8)
The Immaculate Conception of Our Lady (vol. 2, December 8)

Test Review

2006-09-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Our first exam will be on Monday, September 25. Please be familiar with the following:

Terms:
Legenda Aurea (Golden Legend, Jacobus de Voragine)
icon
iconography
hagiography
Alban Butler (Lives of the Saints)
Feast Days (Beheading of John the Baptist, Nativity of Mary, Immaculate Conception, Annunciation)

Texts:
Gospel accounts of the Annunciation (especially Luke)
Gospel accounts of John the Baptist (especially the beheading)
Golden legend, Nativity of Mary

Paintings/Painters:
Byzantine icons
Giotto, Life of Mary, Arena Chapel
El Greco
*Caravaggio

There will be an essay asking you to compare and contrast the religious aims of two different depictions of the same sacred scene. How do the artists use artistic techniques to impart different messages about saintly heroism?

The Annunciation in Byzantine Icons

2006-09-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Annunciation from Ustyug (Novgorod School, 12th century)
The Annunciation, from the cycle of the Twelve Feasts (Dodecaorton), Monastery of Saint Catherine's (Sinai, Egypt), 12th century
Annunciation (Russian icon)
Annunciation (Russian icon, mid-15th c.)
Annuciation (Greek icon)
Annunciation to the Theotokos (Greek icon)
Annunciation with Handmaiden (Russian icon)
Annunciation (Russian icon, 14th c.)

Annunciation Scenes

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Anonymous, Book of Prayers of St Elisabeth of Hungary (c. 1220), illumination on parchment, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Cividale
Anonymous, The Annunciation (c. 1225), stone, Amiens Cathedral
Pietro Cavallini, Annunciation (1291), mosaic in Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome
Giotto di Bondone, God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin (1306), fresco in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Annunciation (from the Maestà Altarpiece, 1308-11), National Gallery, London
Lippo Memmi, The Annunciation and Two Saints (1333), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Giovanni da Balduccio, Annunciation (before 1334), marble, Santa Maria del Prato, San Casciano Val di Pesa
Barna da Siena, The Annunciation (c. 1340), fresco in the collegiate church, San Gimignano
Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Annunciation (1344), Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
Lorenzo Veneziano, Annunciation (1371), Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice
Melchior Broederlam, The Annunciation (1393-99), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon
Master of Heiligenkreuz, Annunciation (c. 1410), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Master of Flémalle, Annunciation from the Mérode Altarpiece (1420s), Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
Masolino da Panicale, The Annunciation (1425-30), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Donatello, Annunciation (1430), sandstone, Santa Croce, Florence
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (1430-32), Museo del Prado, Madrid
Jan van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece (wings closed) (1432), oil on wood, Cathedral of St Bavo, Ghent
Fra Angelico, Annunciation (1433-34), Museo Diocesano, Cortona
Jan van Eyck, The Annunciation (c. 1435), oil, transferred from wood to canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington
Donatello, Annunciation (c. 1435), gilded pietra serena, Santa Croce, Florence
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (late 1430s), fresco in the Convento di San Marco, Florence
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (1440-41), fresco in the Convento di San Marco, Florence
Fra Filippo Lippi, The Annunciation with two Kneeling Donors (c. 1440), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Fra Filippo Lippi, The Annuciation (c. 1440), Frick Collection
Fra Filippo Lippi, Annunciation (c. 1443), Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Fra Filippo Lippi, Annunciation (c. 1445), San Lorenzo, Florence
Dieric Bouts the Elder, The Annunciation (c. 1445), oil on wood, Museo del Prado, Madrid
Domenico Veneziano, Annunciation (predella 3) (c. 1445), Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Alessio Baldovinetti, Annunciation (1447), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Fra Filippo Lippi, Annunciation (1445-50), Galleria Doria-Pamphili, Rome
Fra Filippo Lippi, The Annunciation (1448-50), National Gallery, London
Juan de Burgos, Annunciation (c. 1450), Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge
Pedro Berruguete, Annunciation (c. 1450), panel in the Monastery of Miraflores, Burgos
Fra Angelico, Annunciation (from the paintings for the Armadio degli Argenti, 1450), Museo di San Marco, Florence
Petrus Christus, Annunciation (1452), wood panel, Groeninge Museum, Bruges
Benedetto Bonfigli, Annunciation (1455-60), Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia
Francesco Antonio del Cherico, Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici (1458), manuscript page, Biblioteca Medicea-Laurenziana, Florence
Fra Filippo Lippi, Annunciation (1467-69), fresco in the Duomo, Spoleto
Master of Liesborn, The Annunciation (probably 1470-80), National Gallery of Art, London
Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Annunciation (1470-72), Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
Leonardo da Vinci, Annunciation (1472-75), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Pedro de Cordoba, Annunciation (1475), Cathedral, Cordoba
Hugo van der Goes, Portinari Triptych (closed) (1476-79), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Sandro Botticelli, Annunciation (1481), fresco, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Antoniazzo Romano, Annunciation (1485), wood panel in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
Sandro Botticelli, The Annunciation (c. 1485), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Hans Memling, The Annunciation (c. 1489), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Belbello da Pavia, Annunciation to the Virgin (manuscript page, 1450/1460), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Fra Carnevale, The Annunciation (c. 1448), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Annunciation (1486-90), fresco in the Cappella Tornabuoni, Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Carlo Crivelli, Annunciation with St. Emidius (1486), National Gallery of Art, London
Filippino Lippi, Annunciation (1489-91), fresco in S. Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Annunciation (1489-90), mosaic near the Porta della Mandorla, Duomo, Florence
Benedetto da Maiano, Altarpiece of the Annunciation (before 1489), marble, Mastrogiudici Chapel, S. Anna dei Lombardi, Naples
Sandro Botticelli, Cestello Annunciation (1489-90), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Sandro Botticelli, Annunciation (1490-92), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Cima da Conegliano, The Annunciation (1495), The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Rueland Frueauf the Elder, The Annunciation (c. 1495), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Master of Moulins, The Annunciation (1500), Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Albrecht D¨rer, Life of the Virgin, 7. The Annunciation (1500-02), woodcut, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna
Mariotto Albertinelli, Annunciation (1503), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Juan de Flandes, The Annunciation (c. 1508/1519), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Albrecht Dürer, Small Passion: 3. The Annunciation (1511), woodcut, British Museum, London
Giannicola di Paolo, The Annunciation (1510/1515), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Matthias Grünewald, The Annunciation (from the Isenheim Altarpiece, c. 1515), Musée d'Unterlinden, Colmar
Jean Bellegambe, Annunciation (1516-17), The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Joos van Cleve, The Annunciation (c. 1525), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Albrecht Dürer, Annunciation (1526), pen drawing, Musée Condé, Chantilly
Lorenzo Lotto, Annunciation (c. 1527), Pinacoteca Comunale, Recanati
Andrea del Sarto, Annunciation (1528), Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence
Francesco Albani, The Annunciation (c. 1530), The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Federico Fiori Barocci, Annunciation (1592-96), oil on canvas, Santa Maria degli Angeli, Perugia
Domenico Beccafumi, The Annunciation (c. 1545), oil on wood, SS. Martino and Vittorio, Sarteano (Siena)
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Study for an Annunciation (1547), British Museum, London
El Greco, The Annunciation (1569-70), Museo del Prado, Madrid
Veronese, The Annunciation (c. 1580), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
El Greco, Annunciation (1595-1600), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
El Greco, The Annunciation (1603-05), Hospital de la Caridad, Illescas
Caravaggio, The Annunciation (1608-09), oil on canvas, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nancy
Orazio Gentileschi, Annunciation (c. 1623), oil on canvas, Galleria Sabauda, Turin
Philippe de Champaigne, Annunciation (c. 1644), oil on canvas, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull
Philippe de Champaigne, The Annunciation (c. 1645), oil on canvas, Wallace Collection, London
Nicolas Poussin, The Annunciation (1657), National Gallery of Art, London
Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Annunciation (late 1660s), The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Bernardino Cametti, Annunciation (1729), marble (height c. 500 cm), La Superga, Turin
François Boucher, The Annunciation (chalk drawing, about 1749), Worcester Art Museum
Franz Ignaz Günther, The Annunciation (1763), Parish church, Weyarn
Francisco Goya y Lucientes, The Annunciation (about 1785), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation) (1849-50)
Edward Burne-Jones, The Annunciation (1876-79), Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool
Nesterov, The Annunciation (1897), Mauve Room, Alexander Palace
John William Waterhouse, The Annunciation (1914)
René Magritte, L'Annonciation (1930)
Salvador Dalí, Annunciation (1947)
Melozzo da Forli, Annunciation (date unknown), fresco in the Pantheon, Rome

This list cannot possibly be complete and exhaustive. See also the full list of Images of the Annunciation from The Text This Week.

The Annunciation in the Gospels

2006-09-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the news that she would conceive God's son. It is mentioned, briefly and without any real detail, in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims literal translation). The familiar version of the story as we know it is found, as with the Nativity narrative, only in the Gospel of Luke's first chapter (Latin Vulgate). Here is how it reads in the Douay Rheims translation:

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.

33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren.

37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.

38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Images of Annunciation scenes follow.

John the Baptist

2006-09-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Caravaggio, Beheading of John the Baptist, 1607-08, Pro-Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, La Valletta, Malta

Read the story of John the Baptist in the Gospels, in the Douay-Rheims literal translation of the Vulgate:

Matthew 3
Mark 1
Mark 6: 16-30 (the only account of the beheading)
Luke 3
John 1

John the Baptist in the Golden Legend:

The Nativity of S. John the Baptist (vol. 3, June 24)
Decollation of S. John the Baptist (vol. 5, August 29)

Images of John the Baptist:

Tiepolo, Beheading of John the Baptist (fresco, 1732-33, Cappella Colleoni, Bergamo)
Sano di Pietro, Beheading of John the Baptist (15th century, Pushkin Museum, Moscow)
Beheading of John the Baptist (silver, c. 1480, Florence Baptistry)
Albrecht Dürer, Beheading of John the Baptist (woodcut, 1510, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford)
Hieronymous Bosch, John the Baptist in the Wilderness

Welcome to Class!

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We will begin with a few definitions.

ICONOGRAPHY

Christian Iconography (Catholic Encyclopedia)
A Little Iconography (Part One: The Saints in Rome)
Index of Saints (St. Patrick's Church)

HAGIOGRAPHY

Read the definition of hagiography (Thomas Head, CUNY)
The Cult of Saints and Their Relics (Thomas Head, CUNY)
Hagiography (Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies)

Byzantine Images of the Passion of Christ

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Way to the cross (c. 1200), Church of the Holy Cross, Pelendri
Nicolaos Tzafouris, Christ Carrying the Cross (c. 1490), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Man of Sorrows (16th c.)
Man of Sorrows (16th c.)
Crucifixion (Greek icon, 16th c.)

Pietà / Lamentation over the Dead Christ

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Petrus Christus, The Lamentation (1455-60), oil on wood, Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts, Brussels
Donatello, Lamentation over the Dead Christ (before 1456), bronze, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Giovanni Bellini, Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels (Pietà) (c. 1460), Museo Correr, Venice
Master of the Avignon School, Pietà (detail, c. 1460), Musée du Louvre, Paris
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Lamentation over the Dead Christ (c. 1472), fresco in the Ognissanti, Florence
Giovanni Bellini, Dead Christ Supported by Angels (Pietà) (c. 1474), Pinacoteca Comunale, Rimini
Antonello da Messina, The Dead Christ Supported by an Angel (1475-78), Museo del Prado, Madrid
Guido Mazzoni, Lamentation over the Dead Christ (1477-80), terracotta, partially pigmented, life-size, San Giovanni Battista, Modena
Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Lamentation over the Dead Christ (1485-90), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Sandro Botticelli, Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Saints (c. 1490), Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Andrea Mantegna, The Lamentation over the Dead Christ (c. 1490), Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan
Sandro Botticelli, Lamentation over the Dead Christ (c. 1495), Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan
Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pietà (1499), marble, Basilica di San Pietro, Vatican
Giovanni Bellini, Pietà (1505), Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice
Vittore Carpaccio, The Dead Christ (c. 1520), Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb (1521), Kunstmuseum, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basle
Rosso Fiorentino, Pietà (1537-40), Musée du Louvre, Paris
El Greco, The Pietà (The Lamentation of Christ) (1571-76), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia
Gregorio Fernández, The Dead Christ (c. 1600), polychromed wood, El Prado, Madrid
Annibale Carracci, Lamentation of Christ (1606), oil on canvas, National Gallery, London
Guercino, Angels Weeping over the Dead Christ (1618), oil on copper, 36 x 44 cm, National Gallery, London
Massimo Stanzione, Pietà (1621-25), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
Eugène Delacroix, Pietà (c. 1850), oil on canvas, Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo
Edouard Manet, The Dead Christ With Angels (1864)
Vincent Van Gogh, Dead Christ with Angels (after Manet, 1889)
Marc Chagall, Red Pietà (1956), Museo Vaticani

More images of the Pietà from The Text This Week.

Vir Dolorum

2006-04-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

View of the Convento di San Marco, Florence (decorated by Fra Angelico, 1430s)

Man of Sorrows:

Pietro Lorenzetti, Man of Sorrow (c. 1330), Lindenau Museum, Altenburg
Petrus Christus, The Man of Sorrows (1444-46), Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham
Fra Filippo Lippi, Man of Sorrows (c. 1450), Archbishop's Palace, Florence
Hans Memling, The Virgin Showing the Man of Sorrows (1475 or 1479), National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Hans Memling, Man of Sorrows (1480s), Palazzo Bianco, Genoa
Hans Memling, Man of Sorrows (after 1490), Christian Museum, Esztergom
Maerten van Heemskerck, Man of Sorrows (1532), Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent
Girolamo Campagna, Man of Sorrows (1577-78), marble, S. Giuliano, Venice

Baroque Images of the Passion of Christ

2006-03-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

Caravaggio, The Crowning with Thorns (1602-03), Cassa di Risparmi, Prato
Caravaggio, The Crowning with Thorns (c. 1606), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Caravaggio, Christ at the Column (c. 1607), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen
Caravaggio, Flagellation (c. 1607), Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples
Domenichino, The Way to Calvary (1610), Getty Museum
Anthony Van Dyck, Crowning with Thorns (1618-20), oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid
Pieter Pauwel Rubens, The Flagellation of Christ (c. 1650), Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent
Guercino, The Flagellation of Christ (1657), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome

Later Images:

Honoré Daumier, Ecce homo (1850)
Romare Bearden, Golgotha (1945), Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Passion of Christ in the Gospel of John

2006-03-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

John 19 (in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation):

1 Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.

2 And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head: and they put on him a purple garment.

3 And they came to him and said: Hail, king of the Jews. And they gave him blows.

4 Pilate therefore went forth again and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him.

5 (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man.

6 When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen him, they cried out, saying: Crucify him, Crucify him. Pilate saith to them: Take him you, and crucify him: for I find no cause in him.

7 The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8 When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more.

9 And he entered into the hall again; and he said to Jesus: Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Pilate therefore saith to him: Speakest thou not to me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee?

11 Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered me to thee hath the greater sin.

12 And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

13 Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha.

14 And it was the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour: and he saith to the Jews: Behold your king.

15 But they cried out: Away with him: Away with him: Crucify him. Pilate saith to them: shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.

16 Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him forth.

17 And bearing his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.

18 Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.

19 And Pilate wrote a title also: and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 This title therefore many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.

21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Write not: The King of the Jews. But that he said: I am the King of the Jews.

22 Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written.

23 The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24 They said then one to another: Let us not cut it but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saying: They have parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.

26 When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.

27 After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

28 Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst.

29 Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar about hyssop, put it to his mouth.

30 Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.

31 Then the Jews (because it was the parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that was a great sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken: and that they might be taken away.

32 The soldiers therefore came: and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.

33 But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe.

36 For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.

37 And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

38 And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.

39 And Nicodemus also came (he who at the first came to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 They took therefore the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now there was in the place where he was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid.

42 There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus: because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Renaissance Images of the Passion of Christ

2006-03-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

Konrad von Soest, The Crucifixion (1404 or 1414), Parish church, Bad Wildungen
Master Thomas de Coloswar, Christ Carrying the Cross (1427), Christian Museum, Esztergom
Andrea del Castagno, Stories of Christ's Passion (1447), fresco in Sant'Apollonia, Florence
Fra Angelico, Mocking of Christ (c. 1448), Museo San Marco, Florence
Piero della Francesca, The Flagellation (c. 1455), Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino
Dieric Bouts the Elder, Passion Altarpiece (side wings, c. 1455), Museo de la Capilla Real, Granada
Hans Memling, Scenes from the Passion of Christ (1470-71), Galleria Sabauda, Turin
Hans Memling, Crucifixion (c. 1485), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Hans Memling, Christ at the Column (1485-90), Colección Mateu, Barcelona
Hans Memling, Passion, from the Greverade Altarpiece (1491), Museum für Kunst- und Kulturgedichte, Lübeck
Michael Pacher, Flagellation (1495-98), Österreichische Galerie, Vienna
Albrecht Dürer, The Large Passion (woodcut series, 1510, Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna)
- 3. Flagellation
- 4. Ecce Homo
- 5. Christ Bearing the Cross
- 6. Crucifixion
Albrecht Dürer, Scenes of the Passion, engravings (1512)
- Flagellation (No. 6), Art Museum, Princeton
- Christ Crowned with Thorns (No. 7), Art Museum, Princeton
- Ecce Homo (No. 8), Art Museum, Princeton
- Bearing of the Cross (No. 10) (1512), Art Museum, Princeton
- Crucifixion (No. 11), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Gaudenzio Ferrari, Crucifixion (1513), fresco in S. Maria delle Grazie, Varallo Sesia
Hieronymous Bosch, Christ Carrying the Cross (c. 1515), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Matthias Grünewald, The Crucifixion (Isenheim Altarpiece, c. 1515), Musée d'Unterlinden, Colmar
Jörg Ratgeb, Flagellation of Christ (1518-19), Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart
Albrecht Altdorfer, The Flagellation of Christ (1518), Augustiner Chorherrenstift, St Florian bei Linz
Pordenone, Golgotha (1520-21), fresco in Cremona Cathedral
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Passion (altarpiece, 1524-25), oil on limewood, Kunstmuseum, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basle
Maerten van Heemskerck, Triptych (Passion scenes) (c. 1550), Linköping Cathedral
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Procession to Calvary (1564)
Titian, Crowning with Thorns (1570/75), Alte Pinakothek, Munich
El Greco, Christ Carrying the Cross (c. 1580), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Giuseppe Cesari, The Mocking of Christ (c. 1598), oil on canvas, Chiesa dei Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari, Rome

The Passion of Christ in the Gospel of Luke

2006-03-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

Luke 23 (in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation):

25 And he released unto them him who for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired. But Jesus he delivered up to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country; and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great multitude of people and of women, who bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me; but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne and the paps that have not given suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us. And to the hills: Cover us.

31 For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there: and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they, dividing his garments, cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others: let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of those robbers who were hanged blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing; thou art under the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly: for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done no evil.

42 And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

44 And it was almost the sixth hour: and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now, the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man.

48 And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight and saw the things that were done returned, striking their breasts.

49 And all his acquaintance and the women that had followed him from Galilee stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 And behold there was a man named Joseph who was a counsellor, a good and a just man,

51 (The same had not consented to their counsel and doings) of Arimathea, a city of Judea: who also himself looked for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And taking him down, he wrapped him in fine linen and laid him in a sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid.

54 And it was the day of the Parasceve: and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women that were come with him from Galilee, following after, saw the sepulchre and how his body was laid.

The Passion of Christ in the Gospel of Mark

2006-03-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

Mark 15 (in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation):

15 And so Pilate being willing to satisfy the people, released to them Barabbas: and delivered up Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the court of the palace: and they called together the whole band.

17 And they clothed him with purple: and, platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon him.

18 And they began to salute him: Hail, king of the Jews.

19 And they struck his head with a reed: and they did spit on him. And bowing their knees, they adored him.

20 And after they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him and put his own garments on him: and they led him out to crucify him.

21 And they forced one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus, to take up his cross.

22 And they bring him into the place called Golgotha, which being interpreted is, The place of Calvary.

23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh. But he took it not.

24 And crucifying him, they divided his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

25 And it was the third hour: and they crucified him.

26 And the inscription of his cause was written over: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 And with him they crucify two thieves: the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked he was reputed.

29 And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days buildest it up again:

30 Save thyself, coming down from the cross.

31 In like manner also the chief priests, mocking, said with the scribes one to another: He saved others; himself he cannot save.

32 Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him, reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is, being interpreted: My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?

35 And some of the standers by hearing, said: Behold he calleth Elias.

36 And one running and filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it upon a reed, gave him to drink, saying: Stay, let us see if Elias come to take him down.

37 And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice, gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.

39 And the centurion who stood over against him, seeing that crying out in this manner he had given up the ghost. said: Indeed this man was the son of God.

40 And there were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph and Salome,

41 Who also when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered to him, and many other women that came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when evening was now come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the sabbath),

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.

44 But Pilate wondered that he should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if he were already dead.

45 And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking him down, wrapped him up in the fine linen and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where he was laid.

Medieval Images of the Passion of Christ

2006-03-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Anonymous (German Gothic), Choir screen with the Crucifixion (c. 1245), Naumburg Cathedral
Master of San Francesco Bardi, Crucifix with scenes from Calvary (mid-13th century), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Giotto di Bondone, Flagellation (Arena Chapel, Padua, 1304-06)
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Passion Scenes on the verso of the Maestà Altarpiece (1308-11)
- Flagellation, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
- Crown of Thorns, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
- Way to Calvary, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
- Crucifixion, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena
Simone Martini, Crucifixion (1333), Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
Simone Martini, The Carrying of the Cross (1333), Musée du Louvre, Paris
Andrea da Firenze, Christ Bearing the Cross to Calvary (1365-68), fresco in the Cappella Spagnuolo, Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Andrea da Firenze, Descent of Christ to Limbo (1365-68), fresco in the Cappella Spagnuolo, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

The Passion of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew

2006-03-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Matthew 27 (in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims translation):

26 Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band.

28 And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him.

29 And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews.

30 And spitting upon him, they took the reed and struck his head.

31 And after they had mocked him, they took off the cloak from him and put on him his own garments and led him away to crucify him.

32 And going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross.

33 And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.

34 And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.

35 And after they had crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

36 And they sat and watched him.

37 And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand and one on the left.

39 And they that passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 In like manner also the chief priests, with the scribes and ancients, mocking said:

42 He saved others: himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God: let him now deliver him if he will have him. For he said: I am the Son of God.

44 And the selfsame thing the thieves also that were crucified with him reproached him with.

45 Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? That is, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 And some that stood there and heard said: This man calleth Elias.

48 And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink.

49 And the others said: Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him.

50 And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom: and the earth quaked and the rocks were rent.

52 And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints that had slept arose,

53 And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.

55 And there were there many women afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among whom was Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57 And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus.

58 He went to Pilate and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered.

59 And Joseph taking the body wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth:

60 And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument and went his way.

Images of the Nativity, Part 3

2006-01-12T22:39:00.000-08:00

Western Images (in chronological order):

El Greco, The Nativity (1603-05), Hospital de la Caridad, Illescas
Caravaggio, Adoration of the Shepherds (1609), Museo Nazionale, Messina
Caravaggio, Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence (1609), Formerly San Lorenzo, Palermo (lost)
Bartolomeo Esteban Murillo, The Adoration of the Shepherds
Jacques Callot, The Nativity of Christ (1633), Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Philippe de Champaigne, The Nativity (1643)
Anthony Van Dyck, Nativity
Nicolas Poussin, The Nativity (1650s), Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen, Munich
John Singleton Copley, The Nativity (c. 1776), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
William Blake, The Descent of Peace (1799)
William Blake, The Night of Peace (1809)
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Adoration (1858-64), Tate Gallery, London
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Nativity (1858-64)
Paul Gauguin, Tahitian Birth of Christ
Paul Gauguin, Te Tamari No Atua (Nativity) (1896), Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany
Joseph Stella, Nativity (1919-1920), Whitney Museum of American Art
Joseph Stella, The Crèche
Marc Chagall, Nativity (1950), Galerie Art Chrudim
Romare Bearden, Adoration of the Wise Men

See also the list of nativity paintings from The Text This Week, Secrets of the Nativity (TIME Magazine, December 13, 2004, with a gallery of images, Visions of the Nativity), and The Christmas Story in Art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Images of the Nativity, Part 2

2006-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Western Images (in chronological order):

Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi (1423), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
Jacques Daret, Altarpiece of the Virgin (1433-35), Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Fra Angelico, Nativity (1440-41), fresco in the Convento di San Marco, Florence
Dieric Bouts the Elder, Nativity (c. 1445), Museo del Prado, Madrid
Petrus Christus, The Nativity (c. 1445), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Petrus Christus, Nativity (1452), Groeninge Museum, Bruges
Giovanni Bellini, Nativity Triptych (1460-64), Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice
Anonymous (Spanish sculptor), The Nativity (1460s), terra cotta, Seville Cathedral
Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Nativity (antiphoner illumination, c. 1460), Museo del Duomo, Chiusi
Luca della Robbia, The Nativity (c. 1460), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Fra Filippo Lippi, Nativity (1467-69), fresco in the Duomo, Spoleto
Piero della Francesca, Nativity (c. 1470), National Gallery, London
Michael Pacher, St Wolfgang Altarpiece: Nativity (1479-81), Parish Church, Sankt Wolfgang
Domenico Ghirlandaio, Adoration of the Shepherds (1482-85), Santa Trinità, Florence
Jans Geertgen tot Sint, Nativity, at Night (1484-90), National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Costa, Nativity (c. 1490), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon
Sandro Botticelli, The Mystical Nativity (c. 1500), National Gallery, London
Albrecht Dürer, Paumgartner Altarpiece (c. 1503), oil on lime panel, Alte Pinakothek, Munich
Giorgione, Adoration of the Shepherds (1505-10), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Leonardo da Vinci, Studies for a Nativity (c. 1500), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Albrecht Dürer, The Nativity (probably c. 1509/1510), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Gérard David, The Nativity with Donors and Saints Jerome and Leonard (c. 1510–15), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Albrecht Altdorfer, Nativity (c. 1513), Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Matthias Grünewald, Concert of Angels and Nativity (c. 1515), on the Isenheim Altarpiece, Musée d'Unterlinden, Colmar
Tommaso Orsolino, The Nativity (c. 1520), marble, Chiesa del Gesù, Genoa
Jean de Gourmont, L'Adoration des bergers (c. 1525), Louvre
Correggio, Nativity (Holy Night) (1528-30), Gemäldegalerie, Dresden
Marten de Vos, Nativity (1577), O.-L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

Images of the Nativity, Part 1

2006-01-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Byzantine Images:

The Nativity (Monastery of Daphni, Attica), 11th c.
The Birth of Jesus (1291), mosaic in Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome
Nativity (Byzantine Museum, Athens), 1783
Nativity, Russian icon, 16th c.

Western Images (in chronological order):

Anonymous Master (Spanish), Nativity (1200-50), Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
Early medieval English church nativity scenes
Anonymous Master (Italian), The Nativity with Six Dominican Monks (c. 1275), National Gallery of Art, Rosenwald Collection
Duccio di Buoninsegna, Nativity (1308-11), National Gallery of Art, Washington
Giotto di Bondone, Nativity panel (1304-06), fresco series in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
Bartolo di Fredi, The Adoration of the Shepherds (14th century), The Cloisters, New York
Anonymous (French illuminator), Nativity scene, Très Belles Heures of the Duc the Berry (1380-90), Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris
Anonymous (Dutch illuminator), Nativity scene, Très Belles Heures du Duc de Berry (c. 1400), Museo Civico d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Madama, Turin

The Nativity in the Gospels

2006-01-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

The birth of Christ is not mentioned in the Gospels of Mark and John. There is a brief description in the Gospel of Matthew (in the Latin Vulgate, translated by St. Jerome). Here is how it reads in the literal Douay-Rheims translation, after several verses listing the genealogy of Jesus (tracing his lineage back to King David):

16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations, from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. 19 Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: 23 Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife. 25 And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

However, most of the infancy narrative so familiar to us as the Christmas Story is found in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke (in the Latin Vulgate). Here is how it reads in the Douay-Rheims translation:

1 And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. 2 This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, 5 To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

6 And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock. 9 And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. 10 And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people:

11 For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. 15 And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.

16 And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. 18 And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

These are the only accounts of Christ's birth in the four Gospels. In harmony with this, the feast of Christmas was not particularly important in the early church, overshadowed by a focus on Easter. There is a good account of the development of Christmas in this article from The Catholic Encyclopedia:

Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen, glancing perhaps at the discreditable imperial Natalitia, asserts (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday; Arnobius (VII, 32 in P.L., V, 1264) can still ridicule the "birthdays" of the gods. [...]

The crib (creche) or nativity scene. St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 originated the crib of today by laicizing a hitherto ecclesiastical custom, henceforward extra-liturgical and popular. The presence of ox and ass is due to a misinterpretation of Isaias i:3 and Habacuc 3:2 ("Itala" version), though they appear in the unique fourth-century "Nativity" discovered in the St. Sebastian catacombs in 1877. The ass on which Balaam rode in the Reims mystery won for the feast the title Festum Asinorum (Ducange, op. cit., s.v. Festum).

Hymns and carols. The degeneration of these plays in part occasioned the diffusion of noels, pastorali, and carols, to which was accorded, at times, a quasi-liturgical position. Prudentius, in the fourth century, is the first (and in that century alone) to hymn the Nativity, for the "Vox clara" (hymn for Lauds in Advent) and "Christe Redemptor" (Vespers and Matins of Christmas) cannot be assigned to Ambrose. "A solis ortu" is certainly, however, by Sedulius (fifth century). The earliest German Weihnachtslieder date from the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the earliest noels from the eleventh, the earliest carols from the thirteenth. The famous "Stabat Mater Speciosa" is attributed to Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306); "Adeste Fideles" is, at the earliest, of the seventeenth century. These essentially popular airs, and even words, must, however, have existed long before they were put down in writing.

The verse mentioned in that article ("The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.") from Isaiah 1:3 made the ox and donkey part of Christmas imagery before St. Francis, too. The other verse mentioned (Habakkuk 3:2) was sometimes mistranslated, in the Greek Septuagint, as "In the midst of two animals thou shalt be known." St. Jerome, working from the original Hebrew, translated that verse correctly as "In the midst of years."