Vatican Museums: The Works of Mercy #8
Zanobi Strozzi (Florence 1412 – 1468), Christ’s Entrance into Jeusalem, Altarstep compartment with stories of Christ, tempera and gilding on poplar, golden frame, 15th century, Vatican Art Gallery © Musei Vaticani
The entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, described in the Gospels, is the event which opens the episode of the Passion. Jesus arrives seated astride a donkey, bringing with Him a foal (as in Mt 21:2). Behind Him follows an entourage of Apostles, last of which is Judas Iscariot already represented without a halo. Traditional iconography of this scene usually has Christ moving from left to right (as does Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, and Pietro Lorenzetti in the Lower Basilica of Assisi), though this painting depicts the opposite: Jesus arrives from the right and the crowd awaits Him at the left, their faces filled with admiration and amazement. Children lay down robes, and throw olive branches along His route.
(Pope St. Paul VI, Palm Sunday 1965)
Under the direction of Paolo Ondarza
#BeautyThatUnites
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