Life of Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist, and St. Francis

Iconography - Secrets, Signs, and Symbols in Italian Art

Annunciation

• angel gabriel informs Mary she is pregnant, despite her being a virgin

• made bed / clean sheets, fence, pearls, lily

• holy spirit, immaculate conception

Nativity

• birth of Christ

• halos around Mary, Joseph, and Christ

• manger and farm animals: ox + donkey

Adoration of the Shepherds

Adoring the baby, but angels tell them bc they are w/ the sheep

Adoration of the Magi

• arrive w/ gifts

• camels, travel

• eldest king takes off crown; closest to baby Jesus

  • recognition of new born king

  • three in total; well dressed

• huge procession

Presentation to the Temple

• born into a Jewish society

• taken into temple for circumcision

• Marry + Joseph are present

• knife

• Mary hands baby to priest

• Joseph gives offering to temple

Flight into Egypt

• newborn boys

• angel tells Joseph to go to Egypt, bc smth bad will happen

• Mary rides donkey w/ Jesus

Massacre of the Innocents

• innocent babies being killed by soldiers

• supervisor is ordering the killing

Christ among the doctors

• disputing in the temple w/ doctors

• old, jewish, wise people

• boy is able to have serious / elegant discussions w/ elderly men

• has divine knowledge from beginning

• adolescent christ

Baptistm of Christ

• St. John the Baptist knows Christ is the savior

• he preaches and baptizes people

• Baptizes Christ in the Jordan river

Sermon on the Mount

• hill / mountain

• speaking to roman farmers (oppressed)

• tells ppl to follow him and teaches through action

Marriage at Cana / Wedding

• turning water into wine

• Mary is present (halo)

• always rich

• emphasis on wine: drinking, pouring

Transfiguration

• Christ in bright white light

• hovering

• 3 disciples at his feet

• next to two apparitions

Entry into Jerusalem

• palm leaves, olive branches

• comes back to Jerusalem and he is welcome, but his friends don’t know why he came back

• Jesus (man) on a donkey

Washing of the feet

• Jesus washes Peter’s feet

• Peter is confused and debates

• Jesus tells his disciples: what you are witnessing now, you will do later

The Last Supper

• Jesus, Judas, John (Evangelist), and Peter

• Jesus has a different halo

• Judas has purple / darker complexion / money bag - reaching towards the table or on the other side of it

  • he betrays Jesus and knows it

• Peter holding a knife, outraged

• John - laying on Jesus, younger

Agony in the Garden

• Jesus prays to his father bc he is scared and this is the last moments w/ his friends

• Doesn’t want to be sacrificed

• kneeling in nature, praying

• 3 disciples fell asleep

• Angels w/ instruments of passion

• Judas in the back leading the soldiers to arrest Jesus

Kiss of Judas

• Kisses Jesus

• Ensure he gets arrested

• Peter cuts off a soldier’s ear w/ a knife

Christ before Caiaphas (Jewish)

• Highest priest

• Trail

• Arrested

Christ before Pontius Pilate (Roman)

• Decides between two people —> crucified Jesus

• Official washes his hands to show innocence

Denial of Peter

• prophecy Jesus have Peter comes true

• Peter will betray him 3x that night before the rooster crows

• Denies Jesus 3x to dissociate himself

Mocking of Christ

spitting, crown of thorns, mantle

Flagellation of Christ

whipping, kicking

Road to Calvary

Carrying the cross

St. Veronica wiping Christ’s face

• handkerchief wipes sweat and blood

• cloth w/ Christ’s face

The Crucifixion

• if reduced: Mary and John under the cross

• Entire scene

  • two people w/ JC

  • Left one converts

• Mary Magdalene - red + hair down

• Mary the Virgin

• Longinus

  • converts after giving the 5th wound

Descent from the cross

• taken down from cross

• Mary Magdalene, Madonna, and Joseph under

Pieta / Lamentation

• Mother Mary is mourning over JC

• Mary Magdalene

• John Evangelist (young)

• Not actually in the Bible

The Entombment

Jesus descends in a tomb

Christ in Limbo

• part of the underworld

• Souls from the Old testament are liberated

• white flag + red cross = resurrection flag

The Resurrection

• soldiers guarding the tomb are sleeping, while Jesus walks out w/ a flag

• Mary Magdalene sees him first

• Signals for her not to touch him