GHIRLANDAIO’S VOCATION OF THE APOSTLES
January 23rd 2026
“Vocation of the Apostles”, Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1481, North wall, Sistine Chapel, Vatican. The Apostles Peter and Andrew kneel before Christ wearing cloaks. They are ready to follow Christ. They are shown barefoot. Later on in the gospel
ZURBARÁN’S AGNUS DEI
January 17th 2026
“Agnus Dei”, Francisco De Zurbarán, 1635 – 1640, Museo del Prado, Madrid. John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) This exclamation
Bellini’s Baptism of Christ
January 10th 2026
“The Baptism of Christ”, Giovanni Bellini, 1500 -02, Church of Santa Corona, Vicenza. Christ stands stripped for baptism. A mysterious light catches his pale flesh of Christ. Set against the shaded valley of the river Jordan, his flesh seems to
Gossaert’s Adoration of the Kings
January 3rd 2026
Our Lady sits in the centre with the infant Jesus on her knee. Her copious blue mantle echoes the blue sky visible through the arches of the ruined building where she sits. She and her child are the focus of
The Nativity at Night, Geertgen tot Sint Jans
December 20th 2025
The new born infant is as a light shining in the darkness. The small child lies in a manger watched over by his mother. Behind her and barely visible in the shadows, Joseph looks on. The broken
Cima’s St John the Baptist at Madonna dell’ Orto, Venice
December 13th 2025
“St John the Baptist with Sts Peter, Mark, Jerome and Paul”, Church of Madonna dell’ Orto, Venice. 1493-5, Giovanni Batista Cima, known as Cima da Conegliano. St John the points upwards to the open sky above and looks towards
DISMAS AND GESTAS, FRANCISCO DE RINCÓN
November 21st 2025
Dismas (top) and Gestas (lower), Mueo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid, originally from the Paso of the Elevation of the Cross (below), Francisco de Rincón 1604. These two figures were created as part of a paso or float made to
Raphael’s Ecstasy of St Cecilia
November 15th 2025
“Ecstasy of St Cecilia”, Raphael , 1516, Bologna, Pincoteca Nazionale. Although St Cecilia is the Patron Saint of Musicians, Luthiers and Singers, there is no evidence that she ever played and instrument or sang even a note! What is
EL Greco’s St Martin and the beggar
November 8th 2025
St Martin and the Beggar”, El Greco, 1597-99, National Gallery of Art, Washington. St Martin was a Roman soldier who lived in the 4th Century. On a cold winter’s day, while stationed near Amiens in Gaul, he came upon
