Naked, with wounds and red robe: how to depict Christ in the scene of “Assumption of Mary”
Year mention: 1649
Subject:
Assumption of Mary ; Resurrection of Christ
Conflict:
Clothes
Untruthfulness/Not probable/Not corresponding to history
Criticism:

Concerning the representation of Christ, the author says he must wear only one tunic (which corresponds to his clothes after the Resurrection), and not two. 

Agent:
Pacheco, Francisco
Jeronimo Nadal, Christ Appearing to His Mother, plate 135 from Evangelicae and Adnotationes (1593), which engravings illustrate the Biblia Natalis
Internet archive (original from Getty Research Institute)

When the author analysed how to depict Christ in the scene of Assumption of Mary, concerning the representation of Christ, the author says: wearing only one tunic (which corresponds to his clothes after the Resurrection), and not two as did Jernimo Nadal.

“Ribadeneira has said, planted in a resplendent cloud, ascending to the right hand of her Son and placing the left hand of the Virgin on the right shoulder of Christ, both accompanied by many angels and seraphim; this is how Father Nadal painted it in his book, according to the place of the Canticles; but he put Christ with two tunics, having to put him as resurrected and as he is painted in the mystery of the Trinity”.

“Puédese pintar, como ha dicha el P. Ribadeneira, plantada en una nube resplandeciente, subiendo a la mano derecha de su Hijo y puesta la isquierda de la Virgen en el hombro derecho de Cristo, acompañados los dos de muchos ángeles y serafines; así la debuxó el P. Nadal en su libro, conforme al lugar de los Cantares; pero, puso a Cristo con dos túnicas, debiendo ponerlo como resucitado y como se pinta en el misterio de la Trinidad”.

Model to follow

Albrecht Dürer, Christ Appears to His Mother (from the Small Passion), ca.1510

Keywords
Christ, disciple, embracing, John 20-21, Luke 24, Mark 16, Mary (Virgin), Matthew 28, New Testament, pilgrim, praying, Resurrection

Artist
Nadal, Jerónimo

Date mention
1649

Date artwork
1593
Historical Location

Evangelicae Historiae Imagines, plate 135

Antwerp


Type of Object
printmaking

Media Materials
engraving

Iconclass Number
73E321; 73D6821

Source
Pacheco, El Arte de la pintura (1649), book 3, ch.13, 657
Literature

Pacheco 1990, 654, n.56;

Permanent Link
https://www.sacrima.eu/case/naked-with-wounds-and-red-robe-how-to-depict-christ-in-the-scene-of-assumption-of-mary/