ST MARY MAGDALENE BY PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA
July 15th 2023
For comment on this fresco please see the newsletter for Sunday 16th July 2023
Jacopo Bassano’s Good Samaritan
July 8th 2023
There is a reflection on this painting in the newsletter for the week beginning 9th July.
BASSANO’S GOOD SAMARITAN
July 8th 2022
The Samaritan is struggling to lift the man left for dead by the side of the road, which behind him descends steeply from Jerusalem to Jericho. The Levite and the Temple priest are visible as as they make their hurried
Vermeer’s Christ in the house of Mary and Martha
July 2nd 2022
“Christ in the House of Mary and Martha”, 1654-1656, Johannes Vermeer, National Gallery of Scotland. Vermeer has positioned Christ’s hand the very centre of this canvas. The extended index finger suggests that he is teaching. Behind him, Martha is busy
CRIVELLI’S SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
June 24th 2022
This painting of Sts Peter and Paul is one of my favourites because the two saints look like real characters. This is a side-panel from a large and very formal altarpiece which once adorned the high altar of the Parish
MASS IN A CONEMARA CABIN
June 18th 2022
“Mass in a Connemara Cabin”, Aloysius O’Kelly, 1883, National Gallery Dublin. A young priest gives the final blessing at a Station Mass. His vestments are white and there is a picture of the Sacred Heart in the background, which suggests
THE HOLY TRINITY, EDINBURGH
June 11th 2022
Panel from “The Trinity Altarpiece”, Hugo van der Goes, 1478-9, National Galleries of Scotland. One way to get people to think about the doctrine of the Trinity is to ask them to draw God. Very few will come up
Giotto’s Pentecost
June 4th 2022
“Pentecost”, Giotto di Bondone, 1305, Capella Scrovegni, Padua. Giotto frescoed the walls of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua with 38 scenes drawn from the life of Christ, the Virgin, and her parents, Joachim and Anna. He arranged them in chronological
TINTORETTO’S VISITATION AT THE SCOULA SAN ROCCO
May 28th 2022
“Visitation”, Tintoretto, 1588, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice. This painting was intended to be viewed from below. It hangs high up over an archway on the landing of the grand staircase of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The
BASSANO’S LAST SUPPER
May 14th 2022
“Last Supper”, Jacopo Bassano, c. 1546, Gallerie Borghese, Rome. At the Last Supper Jesus washed his disciples feet and then revealed who it was would betray him. The disciples bare feet are hard to miss and they really do
