CV NEWS FEED // The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., has opened a special art exhibit ahead of Easter honoring the Passion of Christ.
The exhibit, “Ecce Homo: Behold the Man,” features 21 different renderings of the moment when Pontius Pilate presented a scourged Christ to the crowd and handed him over to be crucified.
“This Easter season, ‘Ecce Homo: Behold the Man’ offers visitors a profound opportunity to engage with the story of Jesus in a fresh and thought-provoking way,” stated Amy Van Dyke, the lead curator of art and exhibitions at Museum of the Bible. “Through the eyes of these talented artists, we invite guests to contemplate the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice and the enduring power of his message.”
The exhibit features paintings from as early as the ninth and 10th centuries from Syrian-Byzantine artists, and culminates in artwork from the 20th century.
According to an emailed press release from the museum, the exhibit’s centerpiece is surrealist artist Salvador Dalí’s “Ecce Homo.”
“Drawing from John 19, where Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd, the exhibit explores the evolving visualizations of Jesus’s suffering during his trial, crucifixion and death via a rich variety of artistic styles and media,” the press release stated.
According to an online summary of the exhibit, the depictions of Jesus changed over the centuries. Early artists painted Jesus wearing a purple robe and a crown of thorns, in a more Biblically accurate style.
By the 15th century, artists began depicting “the wounded figure of Jesus,” and by the 20th century, artists focused on “the raw expression on the face of Jesus, punctuated with harsh lines, tight frames, and dynamic color palettes.”
The exhibit will be available for viewing until May 15.
