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Jesus in art
The Crucifixion - John Reilly
Biblical references
Mark 15: 22-41 Matthew 27:33-56 Luke
23:33-49 John 19:16-37
There is a striking use of colours and light, which cleverly contrast joy and
grief.
On one side you have the flowing celebratory form of Jesus, with arms
outstretched, pointing to the immense joy and power of the resurrection. On the
other side you see the wracked, twisted body of Jesus, the barren, lifeless
tree, the nails, the crown of thorns, pointing to the pain, the immeasurable
cost of this selfless act of redemption.
There is the kneeling figure at the foot of the cross, or
could it be a face with eyes searching for the smallest glimmer of hope on this
the darkest of days.
All of this contrasted against the magnificence and glory
and power and life giving properties of the resurrection of Jesus. The rainbow
of supernatural promise…
Three Scenes from the Passion - The Master of Delft:
 
©
The National Gallery
Biblical
references:
Mark 15: 1-47 Matthew 27: 1-60 Luke 23: 1-56 John 19: 1-42
The 3 paintings tell the story of the Passion of Jesus.
They are in a triptych, an altarpiece with 3 separate hinged, wooden panels.
It is understood that the woman dressed in red at the foot
of the cross is Mary Magdalene and the disciple John at the foot of the cross on
the left.
There is the obvious attention to the jeering and mocking.
The pointing of many fingers ‘Aha, you saved others, now save yourself’. Jesus
was sharing the same fate as criminals as mentioned in the book of Isaiah
chapter 52 and verse 12.
The centre triptych is perhaps the one that captures your
gaze and yet it is made complete by the accompanying two. Notice the half buried
bone in the foreground and the barren tree in the distance, with the almost
‘ghost-like’ figure ‘hanging’ from that tree.
Desolation, devastation and despair.
(cursed is he who hangs on a tree - Leviticus …).
Could the elderly man helping to take Jesus down from the
cross be Joseph of Arimathea. Could the linen signify priestly garments? What of
the young woman in the foreground….could she be the same woman who anointed
Jesus with the expensive perfume and her tears.
Notice the signs of new life…the purity of the white
flowers.
This work of art is full of depth and ‘hidden’ meaning,
perhaps that is why so far there has not been a detailed analysed study of it.
We are grateful to The
National Society/Church House Publishing for allowing us to use their poster
resource. Used with kind permission. Text by Chris Westgarth
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