Friday, April 10, 2026

Easter Octave Art Series: Doubting Thomas

 

When Jesus first appeared to the apostles in Jerusalem after the Resurrection, St. Thomas was absent.  When told about this, Thomas wanted the evidence of Jesus' wounds to prove the man was indeed Jesus.  Our Lord appeared again and gave Thomas the evidence he sought  (John 20:24-29.)

Duccio's The Incredulity of St Thomas, a panel in his Maesta altarpiece, depicts the event.  The artwork is tempera and gold on wood.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Easter Octave Art Series: The Supper at Emmaus

 

After walking on the Road to Emmaus, Jesus and the two men reach the town and stop for a meal.  During the walk, the two men had not recognized Jesus and had talked about how he had appeared to Mary Magdalene.  But when Jesus blessed the meal, suddenly the men realized he was Jesus. (Luke 24:28-35)

It is believed that the two men were Luke and Cleophas because Luke is the author of the biblical book where this story is told and Cleophas is mentioned by name in Luke's account.

This event is depicted in Rembrandt's 1648 masterpiece above entitled The Supper at Emmaus. It is a 27 X 26 inch oil-on-mahogany painting located at the Louvre in Paris.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Easter Octave Art Series: Sea of Tiberius

 

Perhaps the most engaging of the biblical accounts of Our Lord's post-resurrection appearances is where Jesus prepares a meal for the apostles by the Sea of Tiberius. (John 21:9-13)

Several of the apostles had been fishing all night but had not caught any fish.  Jesus tells them to put their nets down on the right side.  They did as he said and caught 153 fish.  When they came to shore they found that Jesus had prepared a meal of bread and fish, which he then invited them to eat.

James Tissot's watercolor entitled Meal of Our Lord and the Apostles (above) depicts this event.