Iconography in Art and Architecture .......... ................. Illustrated Dictionaries - Table of Contents .......... ..................Bible verses .................
Jesus - Iconography in Art and
Architecture
Iconography: Study of the symbolic,
often religious, meaning of objects, persons, or events depicted in works of art
Research contributions by Gregory L. Witul
| Agony in the Garden | According to all four Gospels, immediately after the
Last Supper, Jesus took a walk to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane,
accompanied by St. Peter, St.
John and St. James the Greater, whom he asked
to stay awake and pray. Luke 22:39-46 Matthew 26:36-46 Mark 14:32-42 John 18:4 |
Stained glass: Holy Angels RC Church | |
| Alpha and Omega | "I am the alpha and the omega": an appellation of
God in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13). Its meaning is found
in the fact that Alpha and Omega are respectively the first and last letters
of the Classical (Ionic) Greek alphabet. This would be similar to referring to someone
in English as "the A to Z". Symbol for Christ: This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus existed from eternity (as the second person of the Trinity), and will exist eternally. |
Mosaic: Delaware
Avenue Baptist Church Sculpture: Episcopal Church of the Ascension On 1873 marble baptismal font Stained glass: Westminster Presbyterian Church Holy Angels RC Church Murals: St. Casimir's RC Church |
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| Ascension | Mark
16:14-19 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven [apostles] as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen... 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Acts 1:1-14 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men [interpreted as angels] dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." The event took place on the mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, between Bethany and the Holy City (Luke 24:50, Acts 1:12) and was accompanied by the appearance of two angels (Acts 1:10). The event took place forty days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3). The Catholic and Orthodox traditional view is that Mary was also present at the Ascension, following her mention in Acts 1:14. |
Stained glass: St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Saints Peter and Paul RC Church Trinity Episcopal Church Holy Angels RC Church Annunciation RC Church Assumption RC Church |
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| Baptism of Jesus |
Matthew
3:13-17 (New International Version): 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Depictions: Jesus, John, Holy Spirit as a dove and the voice of God the Father The "official" way to become a Christian is to be baptized. Baptists practice baptism by immersion in a small pool, as opposed to affusion or sprinkling over a baptismal font in most other Christian denominations. See also: St. John the Baptist |
Stained glass: Grace Episcopal Church, Lockport Saints Peter and Paul RC Church (Mazur) St. Joseph's RC Cathedral Blessed Trinity RC Church Westminster Presbyterian Church Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica Saints Peter and Paul RC Church (Andrle) Episcopal Church of the Ascension Annunciation RC Church Assumption RC Church Icons: Church of the Intercession, Kizhi, Russia Paintings: Catalonian National Art Museum, Barcelona, Spain Sculpture: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
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| Beatitudes | Stained glass: Westminster Presbyterian Church | ||
| Cana, Marriage at | John 2:1-11: Jesus turns water into wine | Stained glass: Westminster Presbyterian Church St. Joseph RC Cathedral St. Stanislaus RC Church |
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| Chalice |
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| Children, Christ with | Luke
18:16, "Let the little children come to me, and do
not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." Mark 10:13-16 |
Stained glass: First Presbyterian Church, Lockport Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Chapel Westminster Presbyterian Church St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica Corpus Christi RC Church St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Episcopal Church of the Ascension Annunciation RC Church Holy Trinity Lutheran Church |
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| Christogram | Combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol. See IHS, ICXC, PX below. |
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| Crown of thorns | Woven thorn branches placed on Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Matthew 27:29: And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Mark 15:17 ........ John 19:2, 5 King Louis IX bought what is believed by many Chistians to be the Jesus' crown of thorns and built Sainte Chapelle to house it. The crown of thorns is usually found on the Sacred Heart of Jesus (below) depictions. |
Sculpture: Buffalo Religious Arts Museum/St. Francis Xavier RC Church |
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| Crucifix | See Illustrated Architecture Dictionary: Cross | ||
| Crucifixion |
According to Matthew 27:54-55, the following were present at the Crucifixion:
Salome: Mark 15:40 adds Salome to those present at the Crucifixion. Mary, mother,of Jesus: In John 19: 26-27, the evangelist adds, "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home." (The disciple is interpreted as John.) St. Mary Magdalene is sometimes depicted with the cross on which Jesus was crucified on Golgotha and with Adam's skull which tradition holds was also buried in Golgotha ("the place of the skull). See also: cross ..... Stations of the Cross ..... stigmata |
Stained glass: Saints Peter and Paul RC Church St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Westminster Presbyterian Church St. Joseph's RC Cathedral St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Mary and John at the foot of the cross St. John the Evangelist RC Church Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Holy Angels RC Church Church of Saint Joan of Arc, Rouen, France Sculpture: Blessed Trinity RC Church St. Casimir's RC Church Catalonian National Art Museum, Barcelona, Spain 3 examples St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City Icons: Church of Santa Anna, Barcelona, Spain Church of the Intercession, Kizhi, Russia |
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| Epiphany, Magi | "To manifest" or "to show" Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day. Matthew 2:1-12 Luke 2:1-20 Because three gifts were recorded, there are traditionally said to have been three Magi. |
Painting: Annunciation
RC Church Stained glass: Grace Episcopal Church, Lockport St. Joseph RC Cathedral First Presbyterian Church, Lockport Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church St. Joseph's RC Cathedral Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd St. John the Evangelist RC Church Trinity Episcopal Church Louvre, Paris |
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| Fish |
In
Greek, the phrase, "Jesus Christ, Son of God Savior," is "Iesous
Christos Theou Yios Soter." The first letters of each of these Greek
words, when put together, spell "ichthys," the Greek word for "fish"
(ICQUS ). Used by Early Christians as a secret symbol. The ichthys is seen in 1st-century catacombs in Rome. According to tradition, ancient Christians, during their persecution by the Roman Empire in the first few centuries after Christ, used the fish symbol to mark meeting places and tombs, or to distinguish friends from foes. Because of the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the fish symbolized, too, the Eucharist The "Jesus Fish" has become an icon of modern Christianity. Today, it can be seen as a decal or emblem on the rear of automobiles or as pendants or necklaces as a sign to the world that the owner is a Christian. The fish has also been used to symbolize Pisces, the Zodiac sign. |
Sgraffito: Assumption RC Church |
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| Flight Into Egypt | Matthew 2: 13-23 | Painting: Annunciation
RC Church Sgraffito: Assumption RC Church |
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| Garden of Gethsemane / Mount of Olives | Mark
14:32-42 (Gethsemane) Luke 22:39-46 (Mount of Olives) Matthew 26:36-46 Gethsemane: the bottom of the slope of Mt. of Olives Parallels the Garden of Eden where the first sin was committed. In Gethsemane Jesus accepts that he will die for the sins of mankind. Depictions: Sleeping apostles / Jesus kneeling |
Stained glass: Episcopal Church of the Ascension Buffalo Religious Arts Center/St. Francis Xavier RC Church Holy Trinity Lutheran Church St. Stanislaus RC Church |
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| Good Shepherd, Christ as | Psalm
23 John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." "The Good Shepherd is one of the oldest Christian symbols. In the catacombs of Rome there is a Good Shepherd picture painted in the fourth century A.D., probably just before Emperor Constantine officially recognized Christianity." - Nola Huse Tutag, Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit, Wayne State University Press, 1987 Christ depicted with a flock of sheep |
Stained glass: Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Plymouth Methodist Church / Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum St. John's Grace Episcopal Church First Presbyterian Church, LOCKPORT Unitarian Universalist Church Trinity Episcopal Church Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, EAST AURORA St. Stanislaus RC Church Sculpture: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City |
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| Grapes |
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| Holy Communion | Also called the Eucharist and Blessed Sacrament A commemoration of the Last Supper below. Takes the form of a host in Roman Catholicism. |
Stained glass: Annunciation RC Church |
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| ICXC | Traditional abbreviation of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ" In Eastern Christianity, the most widely used Christogram (above) |
Murals: St. Casimir's RC Church |
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| IHS | Christogram: IHS are the first 3 letters in Jesus' name
in Greek: iota, eta, and sigma. (A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol.) Also, IHS in Latin stands for "In Hoc Sanctis," which means "In this sacred place" or "In His Service" or "I Have Suffered." This is a Christogram (above) |
Stained glass: First Presbyterian Church, Lockport Episcopal Church of the Ascension Buffalo Religious Arts Center /St. Francis Xavier RC Church On Jesus' robe Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, EAST AURORA Sgraffito: Assumption RC Church |
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| Infant of Prague |
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Sculpture: Buffalo Religious Art Center Lace gowns Buffalo Religious Arts Center Murals: St. Casimir's RC Church |
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| INRI | INRI is an acronym of the Latin inscription IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM
(Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum), which translates to English as "Jesus the
Nazarene, King of the Jews." In John19:19-20, the inscription is explained: "And Pontius Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin." This is a Christogram (above) |
Assumption RC Church | |
| Jairus' Daughter | Luke
8: 40-42, 49-56: 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. [54] But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" |
Stained glass: St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral | |
| Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman | Luke
7:36-50 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. The "sinful woman"is sometimes identified in tradition as Mary Magdalene, but there is no textual evidence for this. |
Stained glass: Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica St. Louis RC Church Annunciation RC Church |
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| Jesus Heals a Blind Man | Mark
8:22-25 John 9:1-7 List - Healing Miracles of Jesus |
Stained glass: Assumption RC Church |
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| Jesus Learning Carpentry (from Joseph) / The Holy Family | No direct evidence in the Bible Depictions: The boy Jesus often is carving a cross. |
Stained glass: St. John's Grace Episcopal Church St. Joseph RC Cathedral Westminster Presbyterian Church Corpus Christi RC Church Assumption RC Church St. Stanislaus RC CHurch |
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| Jesus Teaching in the Temple | Luke 2:39-52: 12-year-old Jesus teaches in the Jerusalem Temple | Stained glass: Felician Sisters Convent Chapel Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Westminster Presbyterian Church Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Holy Angels RC Church Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, EAST AURORA |
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| Lamb, sacrificial | Lamb is symbolic of the shepherd and his flock and also of sacrifice. See the Good Shepherd above. Jesus is sometimes depicted as a sacrificial lamb. |
Sculpture: Episcopal Church of the Ascension Church of Santa Anna Stained glass: Episcopal Church of the Ascension Sgraffito: Assumption RC Church |
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| Last Supper | The
final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before
his arrest and eventual crucifixion. The consecration of bread and a cup within the
rite recalls the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread,
saying, "This is my body", and wine, saying, "This is my blood." Matthew 26: 17-35 |
Stained glass: St. John the Evangelist RC Church St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Trinity Episcopal Church Episcopal Church of the Ascension Annunciation RC Church Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Icon: Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation |
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| Loaves and fishes, Miracle of | Matthew 14:13-21 | Stained glass: St. John's Grace Episcopal Church Westminster Presbyterian Church St. Joseph RC Cathedral St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral |
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| Mandorla | |||
| Mary and Martha, Jesus With | Luke 7:36-50 |
Stained glass: Episcopal Church of the Ascension Trinity Episcopal Church |
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| Nativity / Shepherds | Luke 2:8-17 | Stained glass: Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica Apse window Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica Clerestory window St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Holy Angels RC Church Episcopal Church of the Ascension Assumption RC Church |
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| Palm Sunday | Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem Symbolizes victory over death |
Stained glass: Westminster Presbyterian Church St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Episcopal Church of the Ascension |
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| Pantocrator, Pantokrator, Christ Pantocrator | A painting of Christ holding the gospel book that dominates the center of
the dome of a church showing him as almighty God, Lord of the Universe. The Pantokrator is largely an Eastern Orthodox theological conception; it is less common in Western (Roman) Catholicism and largely unknown to most Protestants. The icon depicts Christ fully frontal with a somewhat melancholy and stern aspect. Sometimes, on each side of Christ's halo are Greek letters: IC and XC (the Christogram ICXC for "Jesus Christ"). With his raised right hand he makes the gesture of teaching or of blessing. In his left hand, Christ holds the New Testament, usually a closed bookwith a richly decorated cover featuring the Cross, representing the Gospels. (An icon where Christ has an open book is called "Christ the Teacher," a variant of the Pantocrator). |
Painting: New Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Patra, Greece Cemetery Chapel, Olympia, Greece Buffalo Religious Art Center Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery Goritsy, Russia Mosaics: Church on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia Murals: St. Casimir's RC Church Mosque of Christ of the Light, Toledo, Spain |
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| Peacock |
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| Pelican and chicks | Just as a pelican mother pecks its own breast for blood to feed her young, Jesus
sacrificed his blood for mankind. Depictions: Pelican mother feeding her chicks |
Sculpture: St. Ann RC Church St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church/St. Luke's Mission of Mercy St. Stanislaus RC Church Stained glass: Annunciation RC Church Episcopal Church of the Ascension St. Joseph's RC Cathedral Trinity Episcopal Church Sgriffito: Assumption RC Church |
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| Presentation of the of the infant Jesus in the Temple | Luke 2:22-39 | Stained glass: Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd St. Joseph RC Cathedral Our Lady of Victory RC Basilica St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Holy Angels RC Church Episcopal Church of the Ascension Assumption RC Church |
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| PX | Chi Rho (pronunciation): "The Chi Rho is one of the earliest christograms used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word Christ Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century." - Wikipedia: Chi Rho (A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol.) |
Stained glass: First Presbyterian Church, Lockport Holy Angels RC Church Mosaic: Delaware Avenue Baptist Church Sculpture: Episcopal Church of the Ascension Murals: St. Casimir's RC Church |
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| Resurrection | Matthew
28:1-10 (An angel tells "Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary" that Jesus "has risen.") Mark 16:1-8 (A young man dressed in a white robe tells "Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome that Jesus "has risen.") Luke 24:1-12 (2 angels tell Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James that Jesus has risen") John 20 (Jesus speaks to Mary) Christians annually celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, although There is no scriptural basis for this. |
Stained glass: St. Joseph's RC Cathedral Saints Peter and Paul RC Church Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd St. John the Evangelist RC Church Trinity Episcopal Church LaFarge Trinity Episcopal Church Tiffany Saints Peter and Paul RC Church St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, EAST AURORA Tiffany Assumption RC Church Mosaic: Church on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia Exterior Church on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia Interior |
| Sacred Heart of Jesus | "Flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, surrounded by a crown of thorns, surmounted
by a cross and bleeding. Sometimes the image is over Jesus' body with
his wounded hands pointing at the heart. The wounds and crown of thorns allude to
the manner of Jesus' death, while the fire represents the transformative power
of love." - Wikipedia The origin of this devotion in its modern form is derived from a French Roman Catholic nun, Marguerite Marie Alacoque, who said she learned the devotion from Jesus during a mystical experience. |
Painting: Blessed
Trinity RC Church Sculpture: Buffalo Religious Art Center Assumption RC Church Stained glass: Felician Sisters Convent Chapel With two angels Felician Sisters Convent Chapel With St. Margaret Mary Alacoque St. Joseph RC Cathedral |
| Sermon on the Mount |
Matthew 5-7 |
Stained glass: Westminster Presbyterian Church Lafayette Presbyterian Church Grace Episcopal Church, Lockport Parkside Lutheran Church |
| Shepherds Visit Infant Jesus | See: Nativity/Shepherds above | |
| Stations of the Cross | Wikipedia:
Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via
Crucis; also called the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows, or simply, The Way) refers
to the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating
the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St. Francis of Assisi and extended throughout the Roman Catholic Church in the medieval period. It is less often observed in the Anglican and Lutheran churches. It may be done at any time, but is most commonly done during the Season of Lent, especially on Good Friday and on Friday evenings during Lent. Events: 1. The condemnation of Jesus by Pilate ((see Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 2:17-25; John 18:38-40, 19:4-16);); 2. Jesus' acceptance of the cross (see John 19:17); 3. His first fall; 4. The encounter with his mother; (John 19:25-26) 5. Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus (the Gospels, however, place this event at the beginning of the Via Dolorosa; see Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26); 6. Veronica wiping Jesus' face (NOT in the bible); 7. His second fall; 8. The encounter with the women of Jerusalem (see Luke 23:27-31); 9. His third fall; 10. Jesus being stripped of his garments (see Matthew 27:28); 11. The crucifixion; 12. Jesus' death (see Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:30); 13. Jesus' removal from the cross; and 14. The burial of Jesus (see Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). |
Sculpture: Felician Sisters Convent Chapel #1 Jesus Before Pilate Our Lady of Victory Basilica Stained glass: Buffalo Religious Arts Center /St. Francis Xavier RC Church Stations 1-8 Assumption RC Church Station #3 Painting: Buffalo Religious Art Center Mosaic: Church on Spilled Blood, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Station #5 |
| Stigmata | stig MAH ta Five wounds inflicted during the crucifixion: hands, feet, side. For examples in art, see Saint Francis of Assisi |
| Teacher, Christ the | Icon. Similar to Christ Pantocrator (above) , but with an open book. |
Icon: Buffalo Religious Art Center Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery Goritsy, Russia |
| Te Deum |
"Te Deum Laudamus" - "We praise You, O God." See the Latin and English texts on Wilkpedia (June 2011). The "Te Deum" or "Te Deum Laudamus" is an early Christian hymn of praise, based on Nicene Creed, dating from the fourth century. It has been in use in the morning prayers of the church since at least the ninth century. The usual representationof Christ in a stained glass "Te Deum Window" is that of Christ the King seated in heaven He is surrounded by Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, with instruments of praise and smoking censers of incense. They represent different races. |
Stained glass: St. John's Grace Episcopal Church First Presbyterian Church United, SYRACUSE, NY |
| Three nails | 3 nails symbolize the
Crucifixion. They are three in number because two nails were used to
secure Christ's Hands, and a third was used to secure His Feet. The 3 nails are often combined with other symbols, such as they are in the Jesuit seal -- the letters IHS (above) with the three nails underneath, all surmounted by a Cross. |
Sgraffito: Assumption RC Church |
| Transfiguration of Christ | Mark
9:2-7: 2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter (above), and James (above), and John (above), and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses (above): and they were talking with Jesus. ... 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. |
Stained glass: St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Trinity Episcopal Church Annunciation RC Church Icons: Church of the Intercession, KIZHI RUSSIA |
| Trinity | The Trinity consists of three Persons: God (often a voice; father), Jesus (son),
Spirit (dove) Matthew 3:16, 28:19 Depictions: 3 intertwining circles |
Sculpture: Blessed Trinity RC
Church Blessed Trinity RC Church Blessed Trinity RC Church Painting: Buffalo Religious Arts Center |
| Wheat |
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| Woman of Samaria at the Well | John 4:4-42 |
See also:
