Postale
Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ
James Tissot, 1897
Tissot published his magnum opus in 1897 in a two-volume book form. What is well-recognised is that the artwork was outstanding and prodigious. What is rarely mentioned is that his narrative involved ten years of research into the Holy Land, its history and customs, its climate, various important relics and the many traditions passed down, some of which are held with almost as much conviction as the Gospels themselves. His work has been published in two-, three- and four-volume forms, containing the same material, and I was fortunate enough to obtain a beautiful two-volume version on Abebooks. The printed books are themselves a delight of cloth binding and thick paper. If you cannot find a copy, want a preview or are happy with a digital version, a similar two volumes can be found here: Volume I and Volume II.
Tissot explains various details in the Gospels with ease, such as how Saint Mary Magdalene must have washed and anointed Jesus' feet without taking centre stage at the meal, and he links together geography, family ties, Jewish customs and Bible passages to give some very helpful insights into Jesus' life. He produces scale drawings of Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and presents the landscapes of Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem. Most importantly he presents us with a reconstruction based on facts, into which we can safely immerse ourselves.
The volumes contain a variety of artworks requiring more or less effort and expense to publish, so that around one quarter are in full colour, while the rest of the colour illustrations are in monotone and there are many supplementary pen-and-ink images. It was understandable that exhibitions of the original artworks, each of which is brimming with detail, expression and - importantly to Tissot - accuracy, were very popular and continue to be so. Most of the artworks are now in the Brooklyn Museum and in 1901-2 it staged a large 'permanent' exhibition of the 'Collection of Pictures illustrating The Life Of Christ by James J. Tissot'. The catalogue is here.
A slideshow of the 365 illustrations
Opening page of Volume I.
Note that Jesus is behind the lattice.
Opening page of Volume II.
In a style that has perhaps more recently been explored in Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ', Tissot has explored the full pain and suffering that is documented in the Bible and inferred from other historical knowledge, and he pulls no punches when he says "Those who are afraid of blood and of wounds, of flesh which turns blue when it is bruised, had better not look at my work and they had better not read the Gospel either". As did Mel Gibson, Tissot has digested the details contained in the private visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich that go beyond the Gospels, some of which are also supported by tradition; but he also carefully notes that they need to be approached cautiously, and some think that poet Clemens Brentano, Bl. Emmerich's scribe, embellished or supplemented what she was saying, now a widely held view. Nevertheless, Bl. Emmerich's visions led to the discovery of the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus well after her death, which was previously unknown, and which receives a high level of credibility. I have been lucky enough to see the rebuilt house and it is very moving.
The House of the Blessed Virgin Mary near Ephesus, discovered via the visions of Bl. Catherine Emmerich
Tissot also relates the tradition, also in Bl. Emmerich's visions, that, after Jesus was arrested, on the way into Jerusalem He was pushed off the bridge over the Kedron River, which has no parapet, into the water - fulfilling a prophesy in Psalm 110:7. This (partly) explains the otherwise puzzling scene at the start of Gibson's Passion where Jesus falls and is suspended by chains that are crushing his limbs; unfortunately for me this scene was inexplicable in relation to the Gospels and caused me to suspect the rest of the film as being inaccurate, whereas it might be an interpretation of the Kedron River tradition. On a more general note, along with Tissot I think the Gospels contain quite enough shocking detail for anyone to be convinced of Jesus' suffering for our sakes without having to add less reliable information, lest it allow a charge of exaggeration. Add your product description that will be useful for your customers. Add the exclusive properties of your product that will make customers want to buy it. Write your own text and style it in Store properties on Style tab.
The Bridge over the Brook Kedron
How many pictures are there? 300, 338, 350 or 365?
I found it interesting that descriptions of this collection sometimes say '350' or 'over 300', while the book clearly says that there are 365, presumably a very fitting number in Tissot's view. Examination of the 1901 Catalogue archive shows that numbering starts at 12 and ends at 350, plus a 'Frontispiece' that I think Tissot does not mean to include in his '365' so there are in fact only 338 primary illustrations in the 1901-2 exhibition (plus many more 'supplementary illustrations'). This is not to say someone has made a mistake, since the exhibition was in Tissot's lifetime and presumably he assisted the Museum in putting it on. Nevertheless, in the spirit of accuracy promulgated by Tissot and admired by this website author, I have attempted to compile a list of the actual 365 illustrations originally referred to by Tissot as well as the supplementary ones, and the result is below. The full table includes the corresponding exhibition number for the 338 that comprised the exhibition. I count exactly 365, not including the portrait of the author, since I have no doubt that he did not mean his own portrait to be counted in the total and it comes after the final numbered page and also after a page that is blank save for a diamond motif.
It means that the exhibition left out 27 colour illustrations that are in the book. For the most part these are illustrations not central to the events, such as 'Jewish Children' or 'Members of the Tribunal'. Ones that are noteworthy exceptions in my view include:
- 'The Pharisees accusing Jesus', which is a great painting;
- 'Restoration of Calvary as seen from the walls of the Gate of Judgment' which is a superb model of the landscape of Calvary; and
- 'Calvary as seen from the Walls of Herod's Palace' which is the same, but from a different angle.
I also found during this analysis that the titles of some of the illustrations changed a little between the books and the exhibition. The changes are all understandable and I think do not change very much the way in which the picture should be approached, but it may be interesting nonetheless so I have included the exhibition titles as well. Typically these are a change from 'Jesus' in the book to 'Christ' in the exhibition, or a change from a title to a quotation from the Bible that relates to the scene. Some change the sense a little, such as 'The Resurrection of Lazarus' to 'The raising of Lazarus', or 'The Anxiety of Saint Joseph' to 'The fears of Saint Joseph' but you can see for yourself. There are also many further changes in the titles now given to the illustrations as displayed on the Brooklyn Museum's website, but I have not analysed those yet.
VIEW THE FULL TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS (with source links)
VIEW ALL 365 ILLUSTRATIONS ON ONE WEB PAGE
The numbering and titles below are as they appear in the book. For more comprehensive details, use the link to the full table above.
1 Zacharias and Elizabeth
2 The Vision of Zacharias
3 The Testing of the Suitors of the Virgin
4 The Betrothal of the Holy Virgin and Saint Joseph
5 The Annunciation
6 The Holy Virgin as a girl
7 The Visitation
8 The Anxiety of Saint Joseph
9 The Magnificat
10 Saint Joseph
11 The Vision of Saint Joseph
12 Saint Joseph seeks a lodging at Bethlehem
13 The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
14 Gloria in Excelsis Deo
15 The Adoration of the Shepherds
16 The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
17 The Aged Simeon
18 Saint Anna
19 The Magi on their way to Bethlehem
20 The Massacre of the Innocents
21 Interview of the Magi with Herod
22 The Adoration of the Magi
23 The Childhood of Saint John the Baptist
24 The Flight into Egypt
25 The Sojourn in Egypt
26 The Return from Egypt
27 Jesus and His Mother at the Fountain
28 Jesus Lost
29 Jesus sitting in the midst of the Doctors
30 Jesus found
31 The Youth of Jesus
32 Union in Prayer
33 The Voice in the Desert
34 « The Ax laid unto the root of the Tree »
35 The Winnower
36 Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees
37 Saint John the Baptist sees Jesus from afar
38 The Baptism of Jesus
39 Jesus taken up into an high Mountain
40 Jesus tempted in the Wilderness
41 Jesus set upon a pinnacle of the Temple
42 Saint John
43 Jesus ministered to by Angels
44 Calling of Saint Andrew and Saint John
45 The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew
46 Saint Andrew
47 The Calling of Saint James and Saint John
48 Nathanael under the fig-tree
49 Saint Bartholomew
50 The Betrothed of Cana of Galilee
51 The Marriage in Cana
52 Jesus goes up to Jerusalem
53 Interview between Jesus and Nicodemus
54 Nicodemus
55 The Disciples of Jesus baptizing
56 The Man with an infirmity of thirty and eight years
57 The Piscina Probatica
58 The Woman of Samaria at the Well
59 Saint Philip
60 Jesus in the Synagogue
61 The Brow of the Hill near Nazareth
62 The Hidden Treasure
63 The Man at the Plough
64 The Man with an unclean Spirit in the Synagogue
65 Healing of Simon's wife's mother
66 Saint Simon
67 « All the City was gathered together at the door »
68 The Man who laid up Treasure
69 Jesus went out into a desert place
70 Jesus teaching in the Synagogue
71 The vine dresser and the fig-tree
72 Saint Paul
73 The healing of the Ruler's son
74 Jesus preaching in a ship
75 Saint James the Greater
76 The first miraculous Draught of Fishes
77 Jesus healing the lame and the blind on the Mountain
78 Healing of the Lepers at Capernaum
79 Jesus teaching the multitude
80 The Calling of Saint Matthew
81 Saint Matthew
82 The Lost Piece of Silver
83 Jesus sat at meat with Matthew
84 Christ healing the withered hand
85 The enemy sowing tares
86 The Pharisees and the Herodians
87 The Ordaining of the Twelve Apostles
88 The two Women at the Mill
89 « When ye come into an house, salute it »
90 Jesus asleep during the storm
91 Jesus stilling the tempest
92 « In the Villages the sick were brought unto Him »
93 « My name is Legion »
94 The two Men possessed with Devils
95 The Good Shepherd
96 The swine driven into the sea
97 The Raising of Jairus' daughter
98 Jesus teaching on the sea-shore
99 The dumb man possessed with a devil
100 Healing of the woman with the issue of blood
101 « Lord, I am not worthy »
102 The man possessed of a devil in the Synagogue
103 Saint Mark
104 « Young man, I say unto thee, Arise »
105 The Disciples pluck corn on the Sabbath
106 Healing of the Canaanite's daughter
107 « They brought unto Him all that were diseased »
108 The Parable of the Sower
109 A woman anointeth the feet of Jesus
110 Jesus commanding His Disciples to rest
111 The blind leading the blind
112 The Palsied Man let down through the roof
113 The Sermon on the Mount
114 « He laid his hands upon a few sick folk »
115 Two blind men healed at Capernaum
116 Lazarus at the rich man's door
117 The dumb man possessed of a devil healed at Capernaum
118 Christ's exhortation to the twelve Apostles
119 Herod
120 The daughter of Herodias dancing
121 The head of Saint John the Baptist in a charger
122 Saint Thaddaus or Saint Jude
123 The Miracle of the loaves and fishes
124 The people seek Christ to make Him a King
125 The Rich Man in Hell
126 Jesus going up into a mountain apart to pray
127 Jesus walking on the sea
128 The Son of the Master of the Vineyard
129 Saint Peter walks on the sea
130 « Ye seek me, because ye did eat of the loaves »
131 Christ reproving the Pharisees
132 The Pharisees and Sadducees come to tempt Jesus
133 The Woman who had an infirmity eighteen years
134 The Transfiguration
135 The Demoniac Boy at the foot of Mount Tabor
136 Christ sending out the seventy disciples two by two
137 The charge to Saint Peter
138 The Pharisees accusing Jesus
139 « The First shall be Last »
140 Jesus and the little Child
141 The Holy Women
142 Jesus on His way to Galilee.
143 « Get thee behind me, Satan! »
144 Mary Magdalene before her conversion
145 The repentant Magdalene
146 An Herodian and a Sadducee of Galilee
147 The Lawyer standing up and tempting Jesus
148 Jesus passing through the villages on His way to Jerusalem
149 Zacharias killed between the Altar and the Temple
150 The rich young man who went away sorrowful
151 The woman who lifted up her voice
152 The Healing of the ten Lepers
153 Jesus at Bethany
154 Martha
155 Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus
156 Jesus Christ discoursing with His Disciples in the Valley of Jehoshaphat
157 The Tower of Siloam
158 The Lord's Prayer
159 « But no man laid hands upon Him »
160 Holy Women listening to Our Lord
161 Jesus writing on the ground
162 The woman taken in adultery alone with Jesus
163 The Canaanite woman
164 Jesus speaking in the Treasury
165 « He that is of God heareth God's words »
166 One of the Holy Women
167 The blind man washes in the Pool of Siloam
168 The blind man tells his story to the Jews.
169 The Good Samaritan
170 The Jews took up stones to cast at Him Jesus walking in Solomon's Porch
171 Jesus walking in Solomon's Porch
172 Private Counsels
173 Johanna Chuza
174 The Pharisee and the Publican
175 The Wise Virgins
176 The Foolish Virgins
177 Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus
178 « Jesus wept »
179 The Resurrection of Lazarus
180 Lazarus
181 The Prodigal Son
182 The Tribunal
183 The Return of the Prodigal Son
184 Jesus on His way to Ephraim
185 The evil Counsel of Caiaphas
186 « Suffer the little Children to come unto Me »
187 Zacchaus in the sycomore tree
188 A Sadducee
189 The healing of two blind men at Jericho
190 The Foal of Bethphage
191 The Procession on the Mount of Olives
192 The Procession of the Apostles
193 « Jesus wept »
194 The Procession in the streets of Jerusalem
195 Yemenites of Jerusalem
196 The Multitude in the Temple
197 The Chief Priests take counsel together
198 Members of the Tribunal
199 The accursed Fig-tree
200 Christ driving out them that sold in the Temple
201 Jewish children
202 Jesus forbids the carrying of vessels through the Temple
203 The healing of the Lame in the Temple
204 Jesus goes out to Bethany in the evening
205 The Gentiles ask to see Jesus
206 Young girls of Bethlehem
207 The Voice from Heaven
208 The Chief Priests ask Jesus by whose authority He acts
209 The Corner Stone
210 The Tribute Money
211 Saint Luke
212 The Pharisees question Jesus
213 « Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees »
214 One of the Salome
215 « Jerusalem, Jerusalem! »
216 The Widow's mite
217 A disciple from the South
218 The Disciples admire the buildings of the Temple
219 The Prophecy of the destruction of the Temple
220 Mary Magdalene's box of very precious ointment
221 The Jews conspire together
222 Exhortation to the Sinner
223 Judas goes to the Chief Priests
224 Christ going to the Mount of Olives at night
225 One of the Messengers of Saint John the Baptist
226 North-east angle of Jerusalem
227 Modern Jerusalem
228 Heathen Temple built by Hadrian on the site of Calvary
229 South-east angle of Jerusalem
230 The Man bearing a pitcher
231 The Jew’s Passover
232 The Lord’s Supper: Judas dipping his hand in the dish
233 Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet
234 The Communion of the Apostles
235 The Departure of Judas
236 The Last Discourse of Our Lord Jesus Christ
237 Our Lord Jesus Christ
238 Women watching Jesus pass
239 « Philip, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father »
240 The Protestations of Saint Peter
241 Saint Peter
242 « My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death »
243 The Agony in the Garden
244 « Could ye not watch with me one hour? »
245 Judas and with him a great multitude
246 Judas
247 Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss
248 « They went backward and fell to the ground »
249 Saint James the Less
250 Peter smites off the ear of Malchus
251 Christ healing the ear of Malchus
252 The Bridge over the Brook Kedron
253 « And they all forsook him and fled »
254 Saint Peter and Saint John follow afar off
255 Jesus taken before Annas
256 The false Witnesses before Caiaphas
257 The first Denial of Saint Peter
258 The second Denial of Saint Peter
259 Annas and Caiaphas
260 The High Priest rends his clothes
261 « Jesus turned and looked upon Peter »
262 Christ mocked in the House of Caiaphas
263 « Peter went out and wept bitterly »
264 « The cock crew »
265 Friday morning: Jesus in prison
266 The Judgment on the morning of Good Friday Judas repents and returns the price of blood
267 Judas repents and returns the price of blood
268 Judas hangs himself
269 The Apostles hiding in the Valley of Hinnom
270 Jesus led from Caiaphas to Pilate
271 Jesus before Pilate for the first time
272 Pilate
273 The Message from Pilate's Wife
274 Jesus before Herod
275 Jesus led back from Herod to Pilate
276 The Scourging of the Face
277 The Scourging of the Back
278 The Crown of Thorns
279 Agnus Dei: - The Scape-Goat
280 « Ecce Homo! »
281 Jesus for the second time before Pilate
282 Barabbas
283 « Let Him be crucified »
284 Pilate washes his hands
285 The Scala Sancta
286 Jesus leaves the Praetorium
287 Bird's-eye View of the Forum
288 Pilate pronounces Judgment from the Gabbatha
289 The Title on the Cross
290 « And they put his own raiment on him »
291 Christ bearing His Cross
292 Christ falls beneath His Cross
293 Jesus meets His Mother
294 Simon of Cyrene and his two sons: Alexander and Rufus
295 Simon of Cyrene compelled to bear the Cross
296 Saint Veronica
297 The Holy Face
298 The Daughters of Jerusalem
299 Restoration of Calvary as seen from the walls of the Gate of Judgment
300 Calvary as seen from the Walls of Herod's Palace
301 The Procession arriving at Calvary
302 The Holy Women look on from afar
303 The Disciples watch from afar
304 Jesus taken from the old cistern
305 Jesus stripped of His raiment
306 The myrrh and the gall
307 The First Nail
308 The Nail driven into the Feet
309 The Elevation of the Cross
310 The Five Wedges
311 The Penitent Thief
312 « They parted his raiment and cast lots »
313 « And sitting down they watched him there »
314 What Our Saviour saw from the Cross
315 Stabat Mater
316 Mater Dolorosa
317 Eloi! Eloi! lama sabachthani!
318 « I Thirst! »
319 « IT IS FINISHED! »
320 He bowed his head and gave up the Ghost
321 « The People beholding the things that were done smote their breasts »
322 The Earthquake
323 The Chasm in the rock of Calvary
324 The Centurion glorifies God
325 The Centurion
326 The Dead appear in the Temple
327 Apparition of the Dead in Jerusalem
328 The Soldiers break the legs of the Thieves
329 The Soul of the Penitent Thief in Paradise
330 The Piercing of the side of Jesus
331 The Confession of Saint Longinus
332 Jesus alone on the Cross
333 Joseph of Arimathæa
334 Joseph of Arimathæa in Pilate's House
335 The Descent from the Cross
336 The Blessed Virgin receives the Body of her Son
337 The Body of Jesus carried to the Stone of Anointing
338 The Stone of Anointing
339 Christ carried to the Tomb
340 Christ in the Tomb
341 The two Marys watch the Tomb of Jesus
342 The Roman Guards at the Tomb
343 The Resurrection
344 Mary Magdalene and the Holy Women at the Tomb
345 The Angel on the Stone of the Sepulchre
346 « They have taken away the Lord »
347 Saint Peter and Saint John run to the Sepulchre
348 Mary Magdalene in the Tomb
349 Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene:
350 « Touch me not! »
351 Christ appearing to Saint Peter
352 Christ appears to the Holy Women
353 The Disciples on the road to Emmaus
354 « And he vanished out of their sight »
355 Christ appears to the Eleven as they sit at meat
356 The unbelief of Saint Thomas
357 Saint Thomas
358 Christ appears on the Shore of Lake Tiberias
359 Saint Peter casts himself into the Sea
360 The Second miraculous Draught of Fishes
361 Christ eating with His disciples
362 « Feed my Sheep! »
363 The Ascension as seen from the Mount of Olives
364 The Ascension as seen from below
365 The Blessed Virgin in old age
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