I got choked up when we discussed the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald, circa 1510, in my last lecture, and not just because I'm 30 weeks pregnant. It's my favorite religious work of art.
This is the exterior of the altarpiece, with the doors closed. A crucifixion scene with Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene and John the Beloved.
For years, I'm not sure exactly when, the altarpiece was hung in a hospital whose patients were afflicted with skin diseases. Christ on the cross looks more horrific than most Christian crucifixion scenes. His skin is so mottled, pock marked, scarred, injured, diseased. The suffering patients in the hospital would have certainly felt this kind of pain, and empathized with this sad, dying Christ.
The inside of the altarpiece, however, tells a wholly different story. It's hopeful, depicting joyful scenes in Christ's life, His birth and resurrection.
This is the resurrected Christ in the right panel, whole, perfect, effervescent and radiant with hope and joy. I love how He shines like the sun, shown as the cosmic creator. The difference between the Christ on the outside of the altarpiece and the inner is so marked, and would have been a powerful message of hope to the suffering viewers. Like Christ, their bodies would be made whole through His ultimate sacrifice. Because of the Atonement, their skin, like that of the suffering Christ's, will someday glow with eternal life. Really quite profound.
This is the exterior of the altarpiece, with the doors closed. A crucifixion scene with Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene and John the Beloved.
For years, I'm not sure exactly when, the altarpiece was hung in a hospital whose patients were afflicted with skin diseases. Christ on the cross looks more horrific than most Christian crucifixion scenes. His skin is so mottled, pock marked, scarred, injured, diseased. The suffering patients in the hospital would have certainly felt this kind of pain, and empathized with this sad, dying Christ.
The inside of the altarpiece, however, tells a wholly different story. It's hopeful, depicting joyful scenes in Christ's life, His birth and resurrection.
This is the resurrected Christ in the right panel, whole, perfect, effervescent and radiant with hope and joy. I love how He shines like the sun, shown as the cosmic creator. The difference between the Christ on the outside of the altarpiece and the inner is so marked, and would have been a powerful message of hope to the suffering viewers. Like Christ, their bodies would be made whole through His ultimate sacrifice. Because of the Atonement, their skin, like that of the suffering Christ's, will someday glow with eternal life. Really quite profound.
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