Jesus Christ the Husbandman or The True Vine belongs to symbolic depictions of the Lord. The most ancient images of Christ with a vine are found on the 4th century reliefs, as for the icons of such type – they first appeared in the 15th century. Traditionally, such icons were painted based on the texts of the Gospel of John. According to such text, Jesus said: ‘I am a true vine, and my Father is a husbandman’.
Jesus Christ the Husbandman
Creation period
second half of the 19th century
Dimensions
64x47,5 cm
Technique
canvas, oil painting
Collection
8
Open in app#1
Unknown artist
Jesus Christ the Husbandman
#2
#4
Greece, Crete; the 15th century, by Angelos Akatantos. The version of depicting Jesus surrounded by the vine and apostles in its branches. ing via: commons.wikimedia.org
There are two main versions of depicting this topic. One of them first appeared in the monasteries of Greece. The Christ is portrayed as the Pantocrator surrounded by the vine. Usually the apostles, the Mother of God and John the Baptist were depicted among the vine’s branches and leaves.
The second version shows the vine growing from the Holy Sepulcher or from the speared Christ’s rib. The Savior is holding a bunch of grapes in his hands and is squeezing wine from it.
#8
The angel is kneeling beside Jesus holding the Communion cup. This version was adopted by Russian iconography thanks to West European painting.
#7
The unknown artist produced the exhibited icon in the second half of the 19th century. It belongs to the second version of depicting The True Vine story. Jesus is sitting on a coffin, the cross is standing behind Him, and two angels are levitating on both sides. The author depicted some of the instruments of torturing the Crist: two spears and nails near His feet and the crown of thorns on His head. Jesus had a spear thrusting His side, and the nails fastening Him to the cross. The Savior is wearing nothing but a breechcloth, as the solders tore the other clothes off Him after the crucifixion.
The icon painter used these details to tell the story of the Passion of the Christ — the events of the last days of Jesus life, which made Him suffer spiritually and physically.
The vine is growing from Jesus rib. It symbolizes Christian teachings preached by the Christ. It also means the Resurrection, the triumph of life over death. Ripening grapes mean spirituality and wisdom. Jesus is squeezing wine from the bunch of grapes into the cup, which is one of the elements of the sacrament of Communion. It symbolizes the Divine Blood.
The vine is growing from Jesus rib. It symbolizes Christian teachings preached by the Christ. It also means the Resurrection, the triumph of life over death. Ripening grapes mean spirituality and wisdom. Jesus is squeezing wine from the bunch of grapes into the cup, which is one of the elements of the sacrament of Communion. It symbolizes the Divine Blood.
#5
The artist used the hushed tones. He depicted the central scene on a brown background, and painted the grapes and the vine leaves with dark-blue and green colors.
#9
New Jerusalem Museum
read morehide
00:00
00:00
1x
Jesus Christ the Husbandman
Creation period
second half of the 19th century
Dimensions
64x47,5 cm
Technique
canvas, oil painting
Collection
8
Point your smartphone camera to open in the appOpen in app
Share
