TINTORETTO’S CHRIST BEFORE PILATE
November 20th 2021
“Christ before Pilate” c.1566/7, Tintoretto, Sala dell’ Albergo, Scoula Grande di San Rocco, Venice. Christ stands before Pilate, wrapped in what looks like white shroud. We can see that his hands are bound with rope. As in Matthew 27:24, a
TINTORETTO’S PRESENTATION OF THE VIRGIN IN THE TEMPLE
November 13th 2021
The tradition that Mary was presented in the Temple as a child relates that after Mary was weaned, her parents took her to the Temple to give thanks. When her parents placed her on the lowest of the Temple steps,
EL GRECO’S ST MARTIN AND THE BEGGAR
November 6th 2021
St Martin and the Beggar”, El Greco, 1597-99, National Gallery of Art, Washington. The story of St Martin of Tours and the beggar has been painted by artists of every age. It is an inspiring story. St Martin was a
RAPHAEL’S ENTOMBMENT
October 30th 2021
“Entombment”, 1507, Raphael, Borghese Gallery, Rome. Christ is being carried to the tomb, which is a dark cave on the left. The figures in the procession fill the middle section on the painting. We can sense their close interaction
DUCCIO’S HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND
October 21st 2021
In today’s gospel we have the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who was healed by Jesus as he left Jericho. This panel shows a similar miracle from John’s Gospel: the healing of the man born blind (John 9:1-12). It
Zurbarán’s Virgin of Mercy of Las Cuevas
October 9th 2021
“The Virgin of Mercy of Las Cuevas”, Francisco de Zurbarán, c.1644-55, Museo de Belles Artes, Seville. In the Counter Reformation period, sacred figures were often shown as real people in order to foster devotion. How this was done varied
PERUGINO’S THE VIRGIN ADORING THE CHILD, THE ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL WITH TOBIAS, AND THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL
September 25th 2021
These three panels formed the lower tier of a polyptych showing the three Archangels, Sts Gabriel, Michael and Raphael. Perugino painted these panels for the Carthusian monastery, known as Certosa or charter house, which is outside Pavia. The Archangel
CARAVAGGIO’S ST MATTHEW AND THE ANGEL
September 18th 2021
In 1602 Caravaggio was commissioned to paint the altarpiece for the Contarelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. It was to show St Matthew writing his gospel. Caravaggio had already completed the call of St Matthew
TINTORETTO’S CRUCIFIXION AT SAN CASSIANO
September 11th 2021
Christ is crucified on waste ground, where only weeds and brambles grow. It seems to be on high ground, beyond which stand Roman soldiers. With them we look up towards Christ on the cross. Their spears are like a fence,
Murillo’s Birth of the Virgin
September 4th 2021
Although the Virgin was conceived without sin, her birth would have been as natural as any other. This is what Murillo’s painting conveys. Yes, there are angels in attendance and the child has a halo, but these elements don’t detract
