The Life of Christ in Medieval Art

The Annunciation

The angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary to announce to her that she will be the mother of God. At this moment, Jesus Christ is immaculately conceived.

The Visitation

Mary (pregnant with Jesus) and Elizabeth (pregnant with St. John the Baptist) are cousins. Elizabeth recognizes the miracle of Christ in Mary's womb. Sometimes an angel stands near Mary but this is not mentioned in the Bible.

The Nativity

Mary gives birth in a stable. Joseph either watches the birth or sleeps through it, showing his minimal role to emphasize Mary's virginity. Angles appear and announce Christ's birth. The star guides the Magi overhead. Midwives wash the newly born Christ.

Adoration of the Magi

Three Magi (kings from the East) follow a miraculous star to find Jesus who has just been born in a stable. The Magi offer gifts and worship the infant.

The Presentation

Mary and Joseph present Christ in the temple at Jerusalem. They encounter Simeon holding Christ in his arms. The prophetess Anna stands near Simeon, identifying Jesus as the Messiah with a pointing figure.

The Baptism of Christ

John the Baptist baptizes Christ in the Jordan river. A ministering angle stands on the other side of Christ, preparing to dress him when he emerges from the water. The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus in the form of a dove.

The Temptation

The Holy Spirit leads Christ into the wilderness to fast for forty days, during which he is tempted by Satan. Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms in the world and offered them to him if Jesus should he worship Satan. Jesus declines and angles came and waited on him after the devil left.

The Raising of Lazarus

One of the many miracles of Christ in the Gospel. Christ was friends with the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who falls ill and dies. Christ raises him from the dead after four days in the grave.

Entry into Jerusalem

Christ rides into Jerusalem in a donkey where he is welcomed by a crowd by laying down their cloaks for him and waving palm branches.

The Last Supper

Christ eats dinner with his apostles and encourages them to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him. He tells his apostles that one of them will betray him.

Agony in the Garden

After the last supper, Jesus asks to prays with his apostles but they fall asleep. Anticipating his crucifixion, Jesus is said to either sweat blood and be strengthened by an angel of hold his cup which is visualized as a Eucharistic chalice.

Kiss of Judas

Judas betrays Jesus' whereabouts to Roman authorities in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. Judas identifies Christ with a kiss before Christ is arrested and led away.

Christ before Pilate

The Roman prefect Pilate tries Jesus and finds him innocent. Pilate tells the angry crowd they can release one prisoner and they do not chose Jesus. Pilate orders Christ to be whipped and crucified.

The Crucifixion

Christ is crucified while Mary and John the Evangelist watch along with other followers. Jesus is offered vinegar to drink from a sponge and soon dies. He is stabbed in the side with a lance.

Descent from the Cross

Pilate grants permission to remove Christs body from the cross to bury his body. They bring a shroud for his body.

The Marys at the Tomb

The Gospels describe women who followed Jesus as the first witnesses of Christ's resurrection. The Mary's are told by an angel that Christ is not in his tomb, but outside of it. Some versions tell of Pilate's soldiers guarding the tomb being dead from fear at Christ's reappearance.

The Resurrection

Christ emerges triumphant from the tomb with the banner of resurrection. Not explicitly described in the Gospels.

Noli me Tangere

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb to mourn Christ, and mistakes his resurrection as a gardener. When she realizes that he is Christ, he says "Touch me not"

The Ascension

After forty days with his disciples following his resurrection from the dead, Christ ascends into heaven with the Virgin and Apostles standing below. Sometimes only his feet are visible.

Pentecost

The Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire enabling the Apostles to preach about the crucified and risen Christ in many languages for the people gathered in Jerusalem.

Last Judgement

Christ as the judge in the end of time (New Testament and Gospels) surrounded by angels enthroned in heaven. Angles call forth the dead from their tombs to be judged so that the righteous enter the Kingdom of Heaven and the damned go to hell where they are tormented by demons.