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Artistic Depictions of Christ's Life

Religious art capturing significant moments from Christ's life, including nativity, baptism, and crucifixion, through wood and ivory carvings.

Detail of the Tomb of the Saintly Imperial Couple, Bamberg Cathedral, Bamberg, Germany (Large format sizes available)
Detail of the Tomb of the Saintly Imperial Couple, Bamberg Cathedral, Bamberg, Germany (Large format sizes available)
214 assets in this story
Emei Shan, Monument of the People's Republic, Emei Shan, Leshan, Sichuan, China, AsiaDurga altar Durga altar, West Bengal, India, 19th century, polychrome wood, Anthropology National Museum, Madrid, Spain Copyright: xZoonar.com/Tolox 21996574Depiction of Christ carrying the crossThe Entombment of Christ 1700-1701 Luisa Roldán, called La Roldana The Entombment is one of the two jewel-like sculptures” Luisa Roldán gave to the newly installed King Philip V of Spain in 1701, petitioning him to appoint her sculptor to the royal court. In the previous decade she had pioneered a genre of sculpture—powerfully conceived and exquisitely modelled and painted figural groups, made on a deliberately intimate scale—of which this is perhaps the finest. The emotive expressions of the six figures surrounding the body of Christ as he is laid to rest run the gamut from angry disbelief and empty grief, to tender love and sympathy. The Entombment may have been placed in a convent or monastery affiliated with the royal family, or in the family’s private rooms or chapels. In whichever context, it would have inspired meditative devotion, encouraging the viewer to identify with the witnesses to Christ’s Passion.. The Entombment of Christ. Luisa Roldán, called La Roldana (Spanish, SeviSeven Sorrows Altarpiece, Henrik Douvermann (1518-1521/22), predella, Root of Jesse, King David with harp, St, Saint, SaintCrucifixion late 17th-early 18th century possibly German or Netherlandish Calvary was the hill outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified. Here, the traditional group of the Virgin, the Magdalen, and Saint John includes the Good and Bad Thieves. The suffering expressed in the contorted poses would have aided in the viewer's efforts at private devotion. In an unusual iconographic touch, the Virgin kneels at the foot of the cross, a place usually reserved for the Magdalen, who is shown in a posture more typical of the Mourning Virgin. The bearded Saint John is also uncommon, as is the Oriental (Turkish) hairstyle of the thief at the left. The distinctive carving style produced delicate but highly expressive features on comparatively small heads set against broad, flat classical draperies and heavy bodies with unusually stout wrists and ankles.. Crucifixion 200675St. Peter´s crucifixion medallion in St. Peter´s Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, EuropeSanctuary of Fatima. Golden bas-relief of the old Basilica of Fatima representing one of the fourteen mysteries of the rosary, similar to the stations of the cross. Portugal.Interior of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Vilnius, LithuaniaFlight to Egypt. The group, placed on a hilly soil, consists of a donkey going to the left, on which Maria was seated with the child, preceded by Jozef. Maria, used to the viewer, lets something left to the left and keeps the shed feet against each other. She bears the right arm placed on the right arm, in a shirt-dressed child, which with both hands fixed her headscarf, while she supports his legs with her left hand. Joseph is leading ahead with large steps and turns to Mary. With the left hand, he leads the donkey (on the toom) and holds the staff with the judge over his shoulder, to which a basket hangs, covered with a cloth. Mary has under a wide rounded sheath, part of which has been dropped to the left knee, a slow sleeves and the flat-level collar, which loves the loose hair. Joseph carries a tunic with wide sleeves and cuffs reached over the knees; The left sleeve at the top exhibits an outstanding split with three buttons. About his tunic a loose casing, with two buttons on thVirgin and Child Surrounded by Angels Victorian Christmas CardCalouste Gulbenkian Museum. Tabernacle with crucifixion and scenes from Passion of Christ. Germany. Ivory 1300-10.Guardian angel angel (Angelus Custos) with putti in St. Michael, one of the oldest churches in the Allgaeu, listed as a historical monument, Krugzell, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany, EuropeHoly Family on pilgrimage. Mexican Workshop. Engraved, cast and chiseled silver. End of 18th century. Museum of Pilgrimage and Santiago. Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.