concept

John baptises Christ; the holy spirit descends. Etching by J. Mynde, c. 1737.

Christ stands among sick people ('The hundred guilder print'). Etching after Rembrandt, 1649.

Christ stands among sick people and Pharisees ('The hundred guilder print'). Etching after Rembrandt, 1649.

The three kings bring offerings to the infant Jesus. Engraving by N. Dorigny after C. Maratta.

The flight into Egypt in the night, illuminated by the moon and the milky way. Engraving by H. Goudt, 1613, after A. Elsheimer, 1609.

Christ among sick people and the Pharisees ('The hundred guilder print'). Wood engraving by H. Linton after T. Beech (?) after Rembrandt, 1649.

The adoration of the magi: a king kneels before the infant Jesus, seated on Mary's lap. Engraving by E. Fessard after C.J. Natoire.

John baptises Christ in the Jordan. Engraving by P. Galle, 1564, after M. van Heemskerck.

The wise virgins take their lamps to the newly married couple; the foolish virgins sleep. Colour wood engraving by E. Evans after D.H. Friston.

The Virgin reads her Bible as the angel appears with the Holy Spirit. Engraving by J. Collaert after J. Straet.

The text from Isaiah ("And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising") is compared with the story from Matthew 2.2 about the kings following the star to Bethlehem. Light emanates from the finger of the Christ child. The kings all hold vases; a crown and a sceptre lie on the ground. One king looks Arabian. A broken wooden roof joins with a large pillar

1 print : line engraving with etching ; platemark 55.5 x 33.1 cm

The sick and lame bend before the apostle Peter, hoping for cure. Coloured lithograph, 1863, after Masaccio.

Bible. N.T. Luke 1.26-35. A circle of cherubs spin around the Holy Spirit, which shoots its light into Mary's shoulder. The angel Gabriel kneels on a cloud. The Virgin is studiously reading and perhaps writing (there is an inkpot on the table); next to her stands an empty chair; her sewing instruments (from her days in the Temple) lie around her feet. On the other side of the court a chair stands against an exterior wall. On the other side of it rests an upturned pillar among the foliage
The attitudes and postures of the Virgin and the angel have varied significantly and even interchanged in Christian iconography. The plethora of differing images of the Annunciation provides a real insight into the history of emotion and its representation in gesture. The variations of the Virgin's posture provide much of the interest. Her hand is usually active; sometimes she is intently studying, sometimes she is in a gesture of almost carnal surprise. She may be glorified, or on the other hand she may kneel. Then the angel varies in relation to her: he might kneel before her. After the Council of Trent, the angel was set in the air, "reacting against", as Réau suggests, "the excessive 'familiarity' of religious art of the 15th century". On these issues, see L. Réau, 'Iconographie de l'art chrétien'. Presses Universitaires de France : Paris, 1957, vol. 2, book 2, pp. 178-187 (particularly p. 182)

The Virgin looks up at the announcing angel; cherubs spin in a circle around the Holy Spirit. Engraving after J. Callot (?).

Bible. N.T. Matthew 3.13-17; Mark 1.9-13; Luke 3.21-22. John 1.29-32. Jesus leaves his sandals on the bank

1 print : line engraving ; platemark 25 x 28 cm

The baptism of Christ; two angels bear witness, the crowd points and the holy spirit descends. Engraving by F. Keller after J.F. Overbeck.

Bible. N.T. Matthew 3.13-17; Mark 1.9-13; Luke 3.21-22. John 1.29-32. John the Baptist carries a flag attached to his reed cross. It reads: "Ecce agnus dei". John has his eyes turned up towards the light of the Holy Spirit. Two priests, Pharisees or Sadducees, watch the scene from top-left

1 print : lithograph ; image 32.9 x 43.8 cm

The baptism of Christ. Lithograph by M. Fanoli, 1849, after G. Jäger.

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Light and darkness in the Bible

Images

Catalogue

The three kings bring offerings to the infant Jesus. Engraving by N. Dorigny after C. Maratta.

The sick and lame bend before the apostle Peter, hoping for cure. Coloured lithograph, 1863, after Masaccio.

The Virgin looks up at the announcing angel; cherubs spin in a circle around the Holy Spirit. Engraving after J. Callot (?).

The baptism of Christ; two angels bear witness, the crowd points and the holy spirit descends. Engraving by F. Keller after J.F. Overbeck.

The baptism of Christ. Lithograph by M. Fanoli, 1849, after G. Jäger.

Wellcome uses cookies.

Light and darkness in the Bible

Images

Catalogue

The three kings bring offerings to the infant Jesus. Engraving by N. Dorigny after C. Maratta.

The sick and lame bend before the apostle Peter, hoping for cure. Coloured lithograph, 1863, after Masaccio.

The Virgin looks up at the announcing angel; cherubs spin in a circle around the Holy Spirit. Engraving after J. Callot (?).

The baptism of Christ; two angels bear witness, the crowd points and the holy spirit descends. Engraving by F. Keller after J.F. Overbeck.

The baptism of Christ. Lithograph by M. Fanoli, 1849, after G. Jäger.

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