Leo Martínez
The existence of paintings from before the time of Christ is a topic of historical and religious interest. While there is limited evidence of paintings specifically depicting Jesus Christ from the first two centuries after his death, there are surviving examples of early Christian art and architecture that predate this period. These include the paintings found in the Catacombs of Rome, which are believed to date back to the late 2nd to early 4th centuries. Additionally, the Dura-Europos church in Syria, believed to be one of the oldest surviving Christian churches, contains a painting of Christ Healing the Paralytic, which dates back to around 232-235 AD. These early paintings often depicted Jesus performing miracles, such as raising Lazarus from the dead, and holding a wand or staff, which some scholars interpret as a magical implement. While the existence of these pre-Constantinian paintings challenges the notion that early Christians rejected artistic depictions of Jesus, it is important to note that the majority of these works are not solely portraits but religious icons designed to convey specific theological messages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest surviving Christian art | Late 2nd to early 4th century |
| Location | Walls of Christian tombs in the catacombs of Rome |
| Materials used | Paint on plaster, mosaic |
| Image depicted | Jesus performing miracles, Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
| Location of oldest painting of Jesus | Dura-Europos church in Syria |
| Year painted | c.232 or c.235 AD |
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What You'll Learn
The earliest surviving Christian art (late 2nd to early 4th century)
The earliest surviving Christian art can be traced back to the late 2nd to early 4th century. During this time, Christianity was not yet widespread, and its followers were largely peasants, farmers, and fishermen who were unlikely to create paintings or other forms of art. Early Christian art was also deliberately furtive and ambiguous due to the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire. As such, early Christian artistic expressions were often simple and symbolic, with common images including "The Good Shepherd", "The Adoration of the Magi", and "The Healing of the Paralytic". These early works were typically found on catacomb walls, sarcophagus reliefs, and mosaics.
The Dura-Europos church in Syria, believed to be one of the oldest surviving Christian churches, houses "The Healing of the Paralytic", which dates back to around 235 AD. This painting, now at Yale University Gallery of Fine Arts, depicts Jesus healing a bedridden man, who then carries his bed on his back. Another early painting, discovered in the Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome, Italy, shows a young, beardless Jesus carrying a lamb and is known as "The Adoration of the Magi". This work, dated to the mid-3rd century, is one of the most well-preserved examples of early Christian art.
The Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome also contain some of the oldest Christian paintings, including depictions of scenes from Christ's life, such as the "Baptism of Christ" and the "Raising of Lazarus". These 3rd-century paintings often featured Jesus performing good deeds, reflecting the prevailing artistic style of the time. Additionally, the Catacombs of St. Domitilla in Rome contain frescoes uncovered through laser cleaning, revealing rare images such as Christ on a throne between two groups of apostles.
The early Christian art period, which extended until around the 5th to 7th centuries, was marked by the absence of direct imagery of major Christian events like the Nativity, Crucifixion, or Resurrection. Instead, artists allegorically alluded to these narratives through Old Testament stories like Jonah and the Whale, Daniel in the Lion's Den, and Moses Striking the Rock. These works were often found in catacombs and sarcophagi, reflecting the theme of death and resurrection central to the mystery religions of the time.
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Jesus' physical appearance
While there are several paintings and pieces of art depicting Jesus, the Bible does not describe his physical appearance. The Bible does, however, give us some idea of Jesus' general appearance. For instance, it is likely that he had common Semitic traits. Additionally, it is unlikely that his features were particularly distinctive, as he was able to travel in secret from Galilee to Jerusalem without being recognized.
The Gospel narratives are generally indifferent to people's racial appearance or features. However, there are some references in the Bible that have been interpreted as descriptions of Jesus' physical appearance. For example, Isaiah 53:2 refers to a scourged figure with "no beauty that we should desire him," which has been interpreted as a physical description of Jesus. Similarly, the Book of Revelation describes Jesus' hair and eyes in symbolic language, which some interpret as indicating his wisdom and divine nature rather than his physical appearance.
Despite the lack of direct biblical references, various theories about the physical appearance of Jesus have been proposed over the centuries. Some early sources focused on his alleged physical unattractiveness, with the second-century anti-Christian philosopher Celsus describing Jesus as "ugly and small." However, others, such as Church Fathers Jerome and Augustine of Hippo, argued that Jesus must have been ideally beautiful in both face and body. Augustine described Jesus as "beautiful as a child, beautiful on earth, beautiful in heaven."
By the Middle Ages, several documents of questionable origin were circulating with details of Jesus' appearance. One such document, the Letter of Lentulus, describes Jesus as "middling tall and comely, having a reverend countenance, which they that look upon may love and fear."
In terms of specific physical traits, it is speculated that Jesus had olive-toned skin, brown or black hair, and brown eyes, which were common features among Judeans of the time. As for his height, Ephrem Syrus describes it as three cubits (four feet six inches), while Theodore of Mopsuestia claims that Jesus was shorter than the children of Jacob (Israel).
While there is no definitive answer to what Jesus looked like, it is clear that his physical appearance has been a subject of curiosity and speculation for centuries.
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Early symbols and personifications
The earliest Christian art dates back to the 2nd century and was found in Roman catacombs. These early works were symbolic, with simple renderings of a fish, bread and wine, and the lamb, which alluded to Christ. Christians also adapted familiar pagan prototypes to new meanings, such as depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd or in the guise of gods or heroes like Apollo or Orpheus.
In the early days of Christianity, Jesus was often represented by symbols such as Ichthys (fish), the peacock, or an anchor. The oldest existing paintings of Jesus as a person, found in Roman catacombs, date back to the late 2nd to 4th centuries. These early paintings were simple and often depicted Jesus performing good deeds. One of the oldest paintings of Jesus is "The Healing of the Paralytic", found in the Dura-Europos church in Syria, which dates back to around 235 AD.
The flowering of Early Christian art was possible after 313, when the Christian emperor Constantine the Great decreed official toleration of Christianity. Imperial sponsorship brought popularity, riches, and many converts from all classes of society. The church then needed to produce art and architecture on a larger scale to accommodate and educate its new members and to reflect its new social importance.
Mosaic art became important during this period, with early Christian churches putting mosaics on walls to depict sacred subjects. The church of Sta. Maria Maggiore in Rome has an extensive mosaic program of Old and New Testament scenes that began in 432. The art of this period had roots in the classical Roman style but developed into a more abstract, simplified expression focused on spiritual feeling rather than physical beauty. Symbols were frequently used, and compositions were flat and hieratic.
With the influence of Byzantine art, a variety of fantastic animals, such as dragons, birds with human heads, and winged lions, became part of the decorative themes of Christian art, derived from the Book of Revelation. Animals were also used in Christian art to symbolise virtues or vices, with the lamb becoming a symbol of Christ and his sacrifice. In the Renaissance, animals were nearly banished from Christian art, except as accessories to the human figure.
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Art in Christian tombs
The earliest surviving Christian art has been found on the walls of Christian tombs in the catacombs of Rome, dating from the late 2nd to the early 4th centuries. During the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire, Christian art was deliberately cryptic, borrowing imagery from pagan culture but imbuing it with Christian meaning. For instance, the story of Jonah in the belly of the whale was seen as an anticipation of Christ's death and resurrection. Other symbols used to indirectly represent Jesus include the Ichthys (fish), the peacock, the Lamb of God, and an anchor.
The Dura-Europos church in present-day Syria, dated between 230 and 256 CE, is considered the best-preserved early church. It features biblical frescoes, including a figure of Jesus as both the Good Shepherd and Christ. These paintings are a few decades younger than the earliest Christian paintings in the Catacombs of Rome. The catacomb paintings represent the largest body of examples of Christian art from the pre-Constantinian period, with hundreds of examples decorating tombs or family tomb-chambers. Many are simple symbols, but there are also numerous figure paintings, often showing orants or female praying figures, usually representing the deceased.
The lack of surviving Christian art from the first century may be due to a lack of artists in the community, a lack of funds, or a small audience. In the early days of the religion, most Christians were too poor to afford art supplies, and many believed that God should not be depicted visually. Once Constantine changed the national landscape to one dominated by Christianity, churches began commissioning art, and it became socially acceptable and financially viable to create Christian artwork.
Christianity emerged in the Late Antique world, and early Christian worship was secretive. Before Christianity was legalised in the fourth century, Christians suffered persecution at the hands of the Romans, so worship was kept inconspicuous. Christians took advantage of pre-existing structures, such as houses, for worship. These house churches, known as domus ecclesiae, emerged in third-century Rome and are closely tied to the domestic Roman architecture of the time.
The early figural representations of Christ often show him as the Good Shepherd, borrowing from a classical prototype. He was also sometimes depicted as a beardless youth, in the guise of familiar gods or heroes, such as Apollo or Orpheus. By the end of the pre-Constantinian period, the portrayal of Jesus in Christian art had become accepted and fully developed, with various depictions of his image.
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The development of Christian art
Early Christian Art
The earliest surviving Christian art emerged during a period of persecution under the Roman Empire. This art was often furtive and ambiguous, utilising imagery shared with pagan culture but imbued with special meaning for Christians. The late 2nd to early 4th centuries saw the creation of Christian art on the walls of tombs and catacombs in Rome, such as the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and San Callisto. These early paintings depicted Jesus performing good deeds and were typically found on catacomb walls, sarcophagus reliefs, and frescoes. Jesus was also often represented indirectly by symbols like the Ichthys (fish), the peacock, or an anchor.
Legalization and Evolution
With the legalization of Christianity, Christian art continued to evolve and take on a more monumental character. Large Christian churches were constructed, and the art within them became grander to match their new settings. This period witnessed the development of iconic imagery, such as the “Adoration of the Magi” and "The Good Shepherd", which became commonly depicted in early Christian art.
Byzantine Influence and Innovation
The Byzantine Empire played a significant role in the development of Christian art, with a focus on creating sacred images. The use of mosaics became prominent, adorning the walls of churches like the Hagia Sophia, the world's largest cathedral during the 15th century. This period also saw the emergence of a hieratic style, where the primary purpose was to convey religious meaning rather than accurate representation. The controversy over the use of graven images and the crisis of Byzantine Iconoclasm led to the standardization of religious imagery within Eastern Orthodoxy.
Medieval Period and Beyond
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church in Western Europe led the way in commissioning and funding Christian art. While large free-standing sculptures were generally shunned in the Orthodox world, relief sculptures etched into the sides of buildings and churches became common. As Christianity spread to the Vikings through various means, it also influenced Germanic Christian art, with wood and carvings used in depictions of crosses and crucifixion scenes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, paintings from before the time of Christ do exist. However, these paintings are not of Jesus, as Christianity was not yet widespread or popular, and early Christians were largely peasants, farmers, and fishermen who did not paint.
The earliest paintings of Jesus date back to the late 2nd to 4th centuries and are found in Roman catacombs. These early paintings often depicted Jesus performing good deeds, like The Good Shepherd or Jesus Healing a Bleeding Woman.
Some of the earliest paintings of Jesus include "The Healing of the Paralytic", found in the Dura-Europos church in Syria, which dates back to around 235 AD, and "The Raising of Lazarus", found in the Catacomb of the Giordani in Rome, which dates to the 3rd century.
