An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Christ and the Virgin in the House at Nazarethc. 1640
Francisco de Zurbarán
Stories of Christ’s childhood and adolescence became increasingly popular during the Counter-Reformation because they were easily understood by a broad public. Rather than taking a story from the Bible, Zurbarán appears to have invented this subject, in which Jesus pricks himself on a crown of thorns he is weaving, foretelling his later torment at the Crucifixion. Despite the grand scale and monumental figures, the work has remarkable intimacy and quietness, emphasizing such details as the Virgin’s tears.
Zurbarán, also a still-life painter, tilts the tabletop to emphasize the symbolic books and fruit.
oil on canvas
Framed: 201 x 256 x 10 cm (79 1/8 x 100 13/16 x 3 15/16 in.); Unframed: 165 x 218.2 cm (64 15/16 x 85 7/8 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
In a time when the world was both shaken and transformed by the Counter-Reformation, a simple story emerged—a tale woven not from sacred texts but from the quiet corners of imagination. Within this tapestry of faith, the childhood and adolescence of Jesus found new life, beckoning to a curious and diverse public eager for understanding.
Amidst the shadows of towering churches and the hush of prayer, the artist Francisco de Zurbarán stepped forward, his mind alive with inspiration. He chose to create a scene that transcended the usual scriptures; it was a moment of tenderness, a glimpse into the young Jesus as he crafted a crown of thorns. With delicate fingers, he wove the sharp, unforgiving branches, unaware of the deep irony that wrapped around the act itself—this innocent pastime foreshadowed the immense suffering he would endure during the Crucifixion.
Zurbarán’s canvas burst forth like a gentle sigh, grand and yet intimately profound. The figures he painted, monumental in stature, invited viewers to step closer. They stood in solemn silence, immersing the onlooker in a space of reflection. There, the Virgin Mary held her unspoken grief; her tears glistened like precious jewels, catching the dim light that filtered through the shadows of history.
In this delicate interplay of human emotion and divine foresight, Zurbarán's work whispered a story—one of hope and sacrifice, unfolding in the stillness of the heart. As viewers gazed upon the scene, they became more than spectators; they were participants in a dialogue spanning centuries, reaching out to connect with the sacred in the fabric of their everyday lives. This was a narrative painted not just for the elite, but for every soul seeking solace in the gentle beauty of a profound moment.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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