Iconography of the Passion in Marble
Discover a series of eight 16th-century oil paintings on marble depicting the Paschal Mystery of Christ
The Risen Christ before the Virgin (1650) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
In the series of eight oil paintings on marble displayed in the Painting Hall of the Lower Cloister of the Segovia Cathedral, the Paschal Mystery of Christ is depicted. They are the work of Juan de Solís and date from 1560.
Christ gathering his Clothes (Early 16th century) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
1. Jesus gathering his garments
The scene shows Jesus gathering his garments after the scourging, a gesture of modesty that was common in representations of the time. The artist emphasizes the column to which Christ was bound, an object of devotion kept in the Basilica of Santa Práxedes in Rome.
The Crowning with Thorns (Second half of the 15th century) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
2. Crowning with thorns
The Roman soldiers place a woven crown of thorns on Jesus and a reed in his right hand. To mock him, they say: «Salve, king of the Jews» (Mt 27:27-29).
The Trial of Christ (1650) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
3. The trial of Christ
After the scourging and the crowning with thorns, Pilate presents Jesus to the people as «Ecce Homo»
("Behold the man"). Christ had been accused and judged by the sanhedrin, the Jewish court of justice, for religious offenses.
The Crucifixion and the Holy Spear (1650) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
4. The Crucifixion and the piercing of Christ
The artist depicts the Crucifixion on Mount Calvary, highlighting the figure of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side with a spear. Jesus appears in the center, flanked by the two crucified thieves: Dismas and Gestas.
The Burial of Christ (Second third of the 17th century) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
5. The Burial of Christ
After dying on the cross, Christ is taken to his tomb, located near Mount Calvary, next to a garden. The scene includes figures such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and saint John the Evangelist.
The Resurrection (Around 1722) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
6. The Resurrection
This work depicts the resurrected Christ based on the engraving «Resurrection of Christ» by Raffaello Schiaminossi. It shows the soldiers surprised as they witness the Lord rising. The piece combines Flemish composition with Venetian coloring.
The Risen Christ before the Virgin (1650) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
7. Appearance of the risen Christ to his Mother
This work depicts the risen Christ appearing to Mary, an apocryphal theme that was very popular in the 17th century. For its composition, the artist based it on the engraving «The Annunciation» by Raffaello Schiaminossi.
Noli me tangere (1650) by Juan de Solís The Cathedral of Segovia
8. Noli me tangere
Upon recognizing the risen Jesus (whom she had mistaken for a gardener), Mary Magdalene kneels before him. She raises her arm, and Jesus responds with the phrase «Noli me tangere»
(«Do not hold on to me»), as he had not yet ascended to the Father.
Promoted by:
Chapter of Segovia Cathedral
Direction and texts:
Adolfo Rubio Pascual-Muerte
Images:
Segovia Cathedral
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