Easter Octave Art Series: Appearance at the Cenacle

 

 

On the night on of the Resurrection Jesus appeared to the disciples in the same room where the Last Supper had occurred.  The doors were locked and the disciples were frightened about what was to come next.  Jesus showed them his wounds.  He commissioned them to carry the Gospel then breathed on them, said "Receive the Holy Ghost", and gave them the power to forgive sins. (John 20:19-23.)

In the image above we see Tissot's presentation of the event in a watercolor entitled The Appearance of Christ at the Cenacle, at the Brooklyn Museum.

But Thomas was not present for this event and did not believe what others told him.  Jesus appeared again eight days later and that time Thomas was present. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and Thomas believed. Jesus said that Thomas had seen and believed, but blessed are those who believe without seeing.  (John 20:24-29)

Below is Tissot's The Disbelief of St. Thomas showing this event.

 

 

 

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.

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.