The correct way of depicting “Christ’s dispute with the doctors in the temple”
Year mention: 1649
Subject:
Christ's dispute with the doctors in the temple
Conflict:
Agent:
Pacheco, Francisco
Jeronimo Nadal, Christ's dispute with the doctors in the temple, plate 9 from Evangelicae and Adnotationes (1593), which engravings illustrate the Biblia Natalis
Internet archive (original from Getty Research Institute)

Pacheco states in this passage how should be depicted the scene of “Christ’s dispute with the doctors in the temple”: “The painting of this mystery will be in this way: a spacious exedra, classroom, or large room, next to the porch of the Temple of Solomon, before entering it, in which the teachers used to dispute and teach the Law of Moses, a niche between columns with its seat on some steps raised, in the middle: the Infant Jesus very beautiful, with his Nazarene hair, girded seamless robe and mantle, seated therein, with an open book and much majesty; and on either side, six or eight doctors seated in bizarre Hebrew costumes holding him in the middle, some with books in their hands and all with countenances of admiration and awe; and the Virgin, Our Lady, and St. Joseph, dressed as has been said; the holy bear who turns to her pointing to the Child and both with great joy”. Also, he mentions the image made by Jeronimo Nadal as a good model to be followed.

“The painting of this mystery will be in this way: A spacious exedra, classroom, or large room, next to the porch of the Temple of Solomon, before entering it, in which the teachers used to dispute and teach the Law of Moses, a niche between columns with its seat on some steps raised, in the middle: the Infant Jesus very beautiful, with his Nazarene hair, girded seamless robe and mantle, seated therein, with an open book and much majesty; and on either side, six or eight doctors seated in bizarre Hebrew costumes holding him in the middle, some with books in their hands and all with countenances of admiration and awe; and the Virgin, Our Lady, and St. Joseph, dressed as has been said; the holy bear who turns to her pointing to the Child and both with great joy; and since the picture of Fr. Geronimo Nadal can surely be followed; and I would like to end this chapter with what a learned man added, according to St. Ambrose, 1. Corinth. 4, as Barradas, refers to this Gospel: the lesser disciples and children were seated on the floor on mats or carpets, at the feet of the teachers, and thus the Child could be surrounded by the doctors with all this humility.”

“La pintura deste misterio será desta manera: Pintase una espaciosa exedra, aula, o sala grande, junto al pórtico del Templo de Salomón, antes de entrar en él, en la cual solían disputar los maestros y enseñar la Ley de Moisés, un nicho entre colunas con su asiento sobre algunas gradas levantado, en medio: el Niño Jesús muy hermoso, con su cabellera nazarena, túnica inconsútil ceñida y manto, sentado en él, con un libro abierto y mucha majestad; y al uno y otro lado, seis o ocho doctores sentados con bizarros trajes hebreos que lo tienen en medio, algunos con libros en las manos y todos con semblantes de admiración y espanto; y la Virgen, Nuestra Señora, y San Josef, vestidos como se ha dicho; el santo esposo que se vuelve a Ella señalando el Niño y ambos con grande alegría; y por cuanto está muy bien dispuesta la estampa del P. Gerónimo Nadal se puede seguramente seguir; y yo dar remate a este capítulo con lo que añadió un docto, según San Ambrosio, 1. Corinth. 4, como refiere Barradas sobre este Evangelio: los menores dicípulos y niños se asentaban en el suelo sobre esteras o alfombras, a los pies de los maestros y así pudo estar el Niño cercado de los doctores con toda esta humildad.”

Quoted Authorities

Bible, New Testament, St. Ambrose, 1. Corinth. 4

Model to follow

Jeronimo Nadal, plate 9, Evangelicae Historiae Imagines (1593), fig. 66

Keywords
Christ-child, counting, disputing, doctor, finger, Holy Family, Jerusalem, Joseph (St.), Mary (Virgin), New Testament, temple

Date mention
1649

Historical Location
Antwerp

Type of Object
printmaking


Media Materials
engranving

Iconclass Number
73B93

Source
Pacheco, El Arte de la pintura (1649), book 3, ch.12, 631
Literature

Pacheco 1990, 631, n.117;

Permanent Link
https://www.sacrima.eu/case/the-correct-way-of-depicting-christs-dispute-with-the-doctors-in-the-temple/