The Body of Christ as a Sacrifice to Pagan Gods? Mattathias Killing of a Jew in a Dutch History Bible of the 15th Century

Huib Iserief

The Body of Christ as a Sacrifice to Pagan Gods? Mattathias Killing of a Jew in a Dutch History Bible of the 15th Century

Publication date: 30.12.2024

Studia Historica Gedanensia, 2024, Volume 15 (2024)/2, pp. 81-95

https://doi.org/10.4467/23916001HG.24.022.20449

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The Body of Christ as a Sacrifice to Pagan Gods? Mattathias Killing of a Jew in a Dutch History Bible of the 15th Century

Abstract

Miniatures depicting the Wounds of Christ figure in many medieval manuscripts. These fascinating images look weird and alienating, without the body they were inflicted on. They also invoke the feeling we are looking at something scabrous because of their similarity to a vulva. It is uncomfortable: these miniatures depict a sacred matter, the Wounds of Christ. There shouldn’t be an association with something vulgar. Is this strange resemblance maybe a product of a dirty mind. The article attempts to answer the question: How should one approach depictions of the Wounds of Christ in medieval art? Are such depictions sacred, or scandalous?

Keywords

Art history, Iconography, Anti‑Judaism, Netherlandish art, Maccabees

Information

Information: Studia Historica Gedanensia, 2024, Volume 15 (2024)/2, pp. 81-95

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/23916001HG.24.022.20449

Article type: Original scientific article

Authors

Huib Iserief

University of Amsterdam

Published at: 30.12.2024

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Huib Iserief (Author) - 100%

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English

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The Body of Christ as a Sacrifice to Pagan Gods? Mattathias Killing of a Jew in a Dutch History Bible of the 15th Century

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