A Jesse-Tree

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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In the Middle Ages, the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would spring from the family of Jesse, the father of David, was interpreted visually as a family tree. Here, Jesse lies at the base of the tree which grows from his loins. The ancestors of Christ are shown emerging from the branches of the tree, the uppermost of which is occupied by the Virgin and Christ Child. This small picture is painted on parchment or paper, which was commonly used for manuscript illustration. It is painted in minute detail with tiny hatched brushstrokes, and most of the decoration is picked out in gold – techniques also typical of manuscript illustration. The painting was once believed to be by the miniaturist Giulio Clovio, but there is no evidence to suggest this was the case.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Jesse-Tree

Date

about 1535

Medium

Gum or egg white? on parchment or paper

Measurements

H 22.2 x W 14 cm

Accession number

NG3119

Acquisition method

Layard Bequest, 1916

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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