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The audacity of Christian art: This world and the next, Christ on earth; Christ in heaven

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This episode explores three popular picture types which have no gospel basis but which use temporal and spatial ambiguity to reflect on the mystery of Christ having a temporal life on earth, and also being part of the eternal Trinity. The principal paintings discussed in this episode are The Virgin and Child in a Landscape by Jan Provoost (early 16th century), The Virgin and Child Enthroned by Cosimo Tura (mid-1470s), and Christ Crowned with Thorns by Dirk Bouts (c.1470).

From The National Gallery.

Title The Virgin and Child in a LandscapeThe Virgin and Child EnthronedChrist Crowned with Thorns
Artist(s) Jan Provoost Cosimo Tura Dieric Bouts
Dates early 16th centurymid-1470sc. 1470
Places Europe / Western Europe / Belgium Europe / Southern Europe / Italy Europe / Western Europe / Belgium
Period, Culture, Style Renaissance / Northern Renaissance Renaissance / Italian Renaissance Renaissance / Northern Renaissance
Artwork Type Painting Painting Painting
Material Oil paint, Panel Oil paint, Tempera paint, Panel Oil paint, Panel
Technique Chiaroscuro

Cite this page as: The National Gallery, London, "The audacity of Christian art: This world and the next, Christ on earth; Christ in heaven," in Smarthistory, June 30, 2018, accessed February 21, 2025, https://smarthistory.org/this-world-and-the-next-christ-on-earth-christ-in-heaven/.