The Visitation (마리아가 엘리사벳을 방문하다)

 

 

 

(눅 1:40)

사가랴의 집에 들어가 엘리사벳에게 문안하니

 

 

 

 

 

Antonio Bellucci 1654 – 1726

The Visitation

oil on canvas (113 × 56 cm) — c. 1700
private collection

Antonio Bellucci biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

Pregnant Mary visits her cousin Elisabeth, who was also pregnant. Mary would give birth to Jesus, Elisabeth to John the Baptist.

Bellucci turned the scene into an baroque happening, filled with angels.

 

 

 

 

 

Domenico Ghirlandaio 1449 – 1494

The Visitation

fresco — 1486-1490

Santa Maria Novella, Florence

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

In biblical context the word "visitation" is used for the visit Mary paid to her aunt Elisabeth. Both were pregnant at that time. Mary with Jesus, and Elisabeth with John the Baptist.

This fresco is part of the series Ghirlandaio made in the Tornabuoni family chapel in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. All works in this series are about the life of John the Baptist.

• The Angel appears to Zacharias
• The visitation
• Birth of the Baptist
• Zacharias writes John's Name
• The Preaching of the Baptist
• John Baptises Jesus
• Herod's Banquet

 

 

 

 

Il Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) 1591 – 1666

The Visitation

oil on canvas (320 × 213 cm) — 1632

  Musée des beaux-arts, Rouen

Il Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

Elisabeth cordially invites Mary to enter the house. Zacharias repeats the invitation to Joseph.

Guercino here succeeded in catching the moment when the beauty of youth meets the wisdom of old age.

The canvas was made for a chapel in the cathedral of Reggio Emilia, together with The Martyrdom of John and Paul (now in Toulouse).

 

 

 

 

 

Jan Lievens 1607 – 1674

The Visitation

oil on canvas (280 × 198 cm) — 1638-40

  Musée du Louvre, Paris

Jan Lievens biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

 

Pregnant Mary visits her elder cousin Elisabeth, who was about to give birth to John the Baptist. Their husbands Joseph and Zacharias are also present. A servant watches on.

Elisabeth's wide sleeve forms the lower half of an imaginary circle. The circle adds intimacy to the women's greeting.

Lievens painted this large altarpiece during his stay in Antwerp (1635-1644) for a Jesuit church in Brussels. Irony has it that Lievens' parents had fled the southern Netherlands out of fear for persecution by the catholic church. Just a few decades later, Jan had no problem with working for the catholics.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Paul Rubens 1577 – 1640

The Visitation (Deposition - left wing)

oil on panel (421 × 153 cm) — 1612 - 1614

Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp

Peter Paul Rubens biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

 

Mary visits her cousin Elisabeth, who is expectant of John the Baptist. Behind the women, their husbands Joseph and Zacharias. This scene is often referred to as The Visitation.

Please note that Mary is pregnant, and is thus literally carrying Christ.

Rubens made this painting for the Guild of Arquebusiers, who wanted their patron Saint Christopher (meaning: carrier of Christ) portrayed. If Rubens had complied with this wish, he would have had to explain himself to the authorities. The strict Contra-Reformation's principles did not allow portraits of saints to be hung in cathedrals. Rubens chose to hide all references to Christopher by portraying Christ as being carried in all three panels.

This panel clearly shows the influence of Venetian painters Rubens had studied during his journey to Italy.

Left panel of a famous triptych by Rubens. Centre panel, right panel.

 

 

 

 

 

Rogier van der Weyden 1399/1400 – 1464

Visitation

oil on panel (57 × 36 cm) — c. 1445

Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig

Rogier van der Weyden biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

The panoramic view behind Mary suggests that she has come a long way. Her status as the Mother of Christ is symbolized by her posture – Mary stands up straight where Elizabeth genuflexes slightly. Both women place a hand on each other's stomach.

Before the entrance to the peculiar castle-like mansion we can see the Elizabeth's husband Zachary, playing with a dog.

 

 

 

 

 

Rogier van der Weyden 1399/1400 – 1464

Visitation with donor

oil on panel (87 × 36 cm) — c. 1440

Galleria Sabauda, Turin

Rogier van der Weyden biography

 

This work is linked to Luke 1:40

 

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

 

These panels are the wings of Van der Weyden's Annunciation triptych. The centre panel is in the Louvre.

The triptych was made in Van der Weyden's workshop but probably not by himself.

The right panel shows the Visitation: Mary's visit to Elisabeth. The women greet each other by touching the other's belly.

The left panel shows the donor, the man who commissioned the triptych. This is however not the original portrait, which has been replaced by the unknown man in the current panel. The donor was probably Domenico de Villa, a moneylender who worked in Vilvoorde and Brussels.