copy url icon
page icon
print icon
quote icon

Jump To

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

by
Artwork Details Downward pointing arrow

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 March 25, 2025, https://smarthistory.org/this-world-and-the-next-christ-on-earth-christ-in-heaven/.