Elena Rossi
The idea that Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI, was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ comes from a claim made by novelist Alexandre Dumas. According to Dumas, Pope Alexander VI, unhappy with the Semitic appearance of Jesus in artwork, ordered the destruction of all art depicting Jesus as non-European and commissioned new paintings of Jesus using his illegitimate son Cesare as the model. However, this claim is disputed. While there are indeed similarities between the appearance of Cesare Borgia and the modern image of Jesus, there is evidence that Jesus was already being depicted in this way for centuries before Cesare Borgia's time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Source of the claim | Novelist Alexandre Dumas |
| Reason for the claim | To create a more "European-looking" Jesus |
| Alleged commissioner of the paintings | Pope Alexander VI, Cesare's father |
| Timing of the alleged commission | 16th century |
| Evidence for the claim | Uncanny similarities between paintings of Cesare and Jesus from the same period |
| Evidence against the claim | No specific painting is routinely cited as being modelled on Cesare Borgia; the image most associated with the claim was painted in 1940 and bears no resemblance to Cesare; depictions of Jesus with similar features predate Cesare's life by centuries |
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What You'll Learn
Similarities between Cesare Borgia and Jesus Christ
The idea that modern images of Jesus Christ are based on Cesare Borgia stems from a claim made by the renowned novelist Alexandre Dumas in 1843. Dumas asserted that all modern depictions of Jesus Christ were based on Cesare Borgia, the fifteenth-century Italian cardinal and son of Pope Alexander VI.
Dumas' claim has been picked up and expanded upon by biblical theorists, who argue that Jesus was initially depicted as non-European due to his Jewish heritage, which did not sit well with Pope Alexander VI, who was Cesare Borgia's father. The theory suggests that the Pope commissioned new paintings of Jesus modelled on his illegitimate son Cesare to create a more ""European-looking" Jesus.
There are indeed some striking similarities between Cesare Borgia and the modern image of Jesus Christ. Both have been described as having long brown hair, brown beards, and noble faces with defined features, strong jawlines, and intelligent gazes. Additionally, Cesare Borgia's most famous portrait shows him gazing serenely off the canvas, resembling the calm and peaceful expression often associated with depictions of Jesus.
However, it is important to note that there is no concrete evidence to support the theory that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ. The Ravenna Mosaics, which depict Jesus in a typical modern manner, predate Cesare Borgia's life by nearly a thousand years. Additionally, there are dozens of other examples from the Middle Ages that show Jesus was depicted in this way for centuries before any portraits of Cesare Borgia.
Furthermore, the timeline of events does not support the theory. The Crusades, which may have influenced the depiction of Jesus to distance him from the "enemy," took place between 1096 and 1291, while Cesare Borgia lived between 1475 and 1507.
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The claim by Alexandre Dumas
The claim that Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI, was the model for paintings of Christ originates from the renowned French novelist Alexandre Dumas. In an essay published in 1843, Dumas asserted that all modern depictions of Jesus Christ were based on Cesare Borgia.
Dumas' claim centres around the idea that Pope Alexander VI, originally a Jewish man named Rodrigo Borgia, wanted to create a more "European-looking" Jesus. According to Dumas, the Pope commissioned new paintings of Jesus using his illegitimate son Cesare as the model and ordered the destruction of all art depicting a Semitic Jesus. This, Dumas argued, led to the popularization of the enduring European image of Jesus that we know today.
Dumas pointed out the striking physical similarities between Cesare Borgia and the stereotypical depiction of Jesus. Both are described as having medium-length beards and mustaches, similar skin tones, and intelligent gazes. Additionally, Borgia's most famous portrait shows him gazing serenely off canvas, resembling the calm and peaceful expression often associated with depictions of Christ.
However, despite the intriguing nature of Dumas' claim, there is little evidence to support it. Numerous examples from the Middle Ages depict Jesus in a similar manner to the modern-day stereotypical depiction, hundreds of years before Cesare Borgia's existence. Thus, while the physical resemblance between Borgia and the stereotypical Jesus is notable, it is likely a coincidence.
Furthermore, it is important to note that there is no definitive proof that any specific individual served as the model for paintings of Christ. Artists throughout history have created depictions of Jesus that resembled the people of their time and cultural context, contributing to the diverse and varied representations of Christ that exist today.
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The destruction of Semitic Jesus art
The idea that Cesare Borgia, the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI, was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ originates from a claim made by novelist Alexandre Dumas. Dumas asserted that Pope Alexander VI, finding the non-European appearance of Jesus unacceptable, commissioned new paintings of Jesus using Cesare as the model and ordered the destruction of all art depicting a Semitic Jesus.
While there are indeed striking similarities between portraits of Cesare Borgia and the modern image of Jesus, there is no evidence to support Dumas' claim. In fact, there are examples of Jesus being depicted in the typical modern manner that predate Cesare Borgia's life by several centuries, such as the Ravenna Mosaics from the 6th century and the icon of Christ Pantocrator at St Catherine's Monastery in Sinai from the 5th century.
The portrayal of Jesus as a white, European man has a long history and has been influenced by various factors, including the biases of artists and patrons, the technical innovations of the Renaissance, and the desire to distance Jesus from his Jewish identity. This transformation of Jesus' image has contributed to anti-Semitism by perpetuating the idea that Jesus and Jews are of different ethnicities and religions and fueling the three pillars of anti-Semitism: separation, exaggeration of differences, and demonization.
Today, there is a growing scrutiny of the traditional European depiction of Jesus, with some calling for the removal of artwork depicting "white Jesus". Efforts are being made by artists and scholars to restore the Jewish identity of Jesus in art, acknowledging the common origins of Christianity and Judaism and celebrating their commonalities.
In conclusion, while Cesare Borgia may bear a striking resemblance to the modern image of Jesus, the destruction of Semitic Jesus art is more likely attributed to the historical forces that shaped the portrayal of Jesus as a white, European figure, rather than a direct order from Pope Alexander VI.
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The existence of prior Jesus depictions
The claim that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ originates from the renowned novelist Alexandre Dumas, who wrote in 1843. He asserted that all modern depictions of Jesus, the Christian son of God, stemmed from pictures of Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI. This theory has been picked up and expanded upon by biblical theorists, particularly gaining traction among those who believe that Jesus, being Jewish, would have had a non-European appearance.
However, this claim is not supported by historical evidence. Firstly, there is no discernible shift in the portrayal of Jesus coinciding with Cesare Borgia's lifetime. If such a shift had occurred, with Jesus being depicted as a darker-skinned, smaller individual, it could indicate a link to Cesare Borgia. Yet, this is not the case, as Jesus was already being depicted as a bearded man with European features for centuries before Borgia's existence. For instance, the Ravenna Mosaics from the 6th century, nearly a thousand years before Borgia's birth, show Jesus in a typical modern portrayal.
Moreover, the theory relies solely on visual similarities between certain artworks of Borgia and Jesus. No specific painting of Jesus is consistently cited as being modelled after Cesare Borgia. In fact, the image most commonly associated with this theory was painted in 1940 and bears little resemblance to known portraits of Borgia.
Therefore, while the idea that Cesare Borgia inspired the modern image of Jesus may be intriguing, it lacks concrete evidence and is contradicted by the existence of prior depictions of Jesus that predate Borgia's lifetime.
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The lack of concrete evidence
The theory that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ is just that: a theory. While it is true that images of Cesare Borgia from the period are similar to the images of Christ painted around the same time, there is no concrete evidence to support the idea that Borgia was the model for these paintings.
The theory was first proposed by the renowned novelist Alexandre Dumas, who claimed that all modern depictions of Jesus Christ were based on pictures of Cesare Borgia. According to Dumas, the Borgia pope, Pope Alexander VI, commissioned new paintings of Jesus using his illegitimate son Cesare as the model and ordered the destruction of all art depicting a Semitic Jesus. However, there is no historical evidence to support these claims.
While it is true that there are similarities between the facial features of Cesare Borgia and the traditional depiction of Jesus, this could be a coincidence. It is important to note that the traditional depiction of Jesus with a beard and long hair predates the Renaissance and is based on Syrian-Palestinian influences. Additionally, there are many other examples of Jesus in art that do not resemble Cesare Borgia, including the Ravenna Mosaics, which predate Cesare Borgia's life by nearly a thousand years.
Furthermore, no specific painting is routinely cited as one for which Cesare Borgia purportedly sat as a model or which he inspired. The image most commonly associated with this rumor was painted in 1940 and bears no resemblance to the few extant Borgia portraits. While it is interesting to speculate, there is simply no concrete evidence to support the theory that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Jesus Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unlikely that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Christ. While there are similarities between the two, there are also notable differences. Additionally, there is evidence that Jesus was depicted in a similar way before Cesare Borgia's time. Furthermore, no specific painting is routinely cited as having Cesare Borgia as its model.
The idea that Cesare Borgia was the model for paintings of Christ comes from a claim made by the novelist Alexandre Dumas. Dumas argued that Pope Alexander VI, Cesare Borgia's father, commissioned new paintings of Jesus using his illegitimate son as the model.
There are examples of artwork depicting Jesus that predate Cesare Borgia's life by several centuries, such as the Ravenna Mosaics from the 6th century and Duccio di Buoninsegna's Christ's Farewell to his Apostles from the early 1300s. These depictions show a long-haired, pale-skinned Jesus, similar to how he is often portrayed today.
One theory is that the depiction of Jesus as a Caucasian man with light-coloured hair and eyes may have been influenced by cultural biases of the time, with people finding it easier to worship a God who looked like them.
