Sacred Art in the Catholic Church

A study worksheet for the Agency for Evangelisation & Catechism

Studying and interpreting Sacred Art

We will be studying “The Holy Children with a shell” by artist Bartolomè Esteban Murillo
(c.1670)

Key points to consider:

• Christ as a child is depicted in this painting with St John, why? The child Christ is
quenching the thirst of St John, what does this mean?

• What is the significance of the scallop shell in this painting, its association with St John
and the Catholic faith?

• What is the lamb of God doing in this painting? What do the angels and dark clouds
represent?
The Study of “The Holy Children with a shell”
The painting was created by Spanish Baroque painter, Bartolomè Esteban Murillo during the
late 17th century. It is on display at the Museo del Prado in Madrid Spain. The origins of the
original art patron who commissioned this piece is unknown. The original owner is thought to
be a private client of wealthy Sevillian nobility. Murillo had two very wealthy patrons who
collected his works and regularly commissioned him, Justino de Neve and Nicolas Omazur.
Both men were quite popular art collectors at the time, pointing to the likelihood of this
painting being originally part of a private collection. The Museo del Prado first put this painting
on display in 1819 and it was very well received by the public.

“I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?”

- St John the Baptist in Matthew 3:13

In this painting we see Christ as a child with St John also depicted as a child. In scripture,
although they were cousins, they did not meet until both were adults. The use of muted colour
and childhood as a theme, reflects the life of both Christ and St John. The two men were
humble, and their depiction of children is symbolic of their faith life,their spirituality and piety,
trusting in God with pure hearts like little children.

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never
enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this
child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 18:1-5

In the painting we see Christ holding a scallop shell, which has been traditionally used for the
sacrament of Baptism due to its common availability, bowl shape and ability to hold water. The
scallop shell is most notably associated with St James, another one of Christ’s disciples. Often
within the Catholic Church many evangelist Saints are also associated with the scallop shell, for
their role in converting souls and spreading Christianity. Life has its origin in water. Christ is
“the way and the life”. When we are Baptised we are made in a new image, as a follower of
Christ, free from original sin and thus we begin a new life as a Christian. St John is depicted
drinking from the scallop, symbolising his thirst being quenched. It may reflect that through
Christ, we no longer spiritually thirst and can be united with Christ who is the Truth and way to
salvation, through this sacrament.

The Lamb of God is also depicted in this painting but it’s presence has two meanings. The first,
is that it foreshadows the life of Christ and His Sacrifice. The second meaning, is that Christ
himself is the Lamb of God, and is always closest to the little children whom are most dear.

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The storm clouds in the background indicate that the future for both Christ and St John will be a
sorrowful one of suffering and sacrifice. The angels represent the passage in Matthew 3:13-17
during the baptism of Christ when heaven is described as opening to allow the spirit of God to
descend upon Him. The angels symbolise heaven, and the Holy Spirit in this painting, since a
dove is absent. The river Jordan is seen in the painting, reflecting where the Baptism of Christ
will take place in His adulthood. On the staff which is being held by St John it reads “Agnus
Dei” which is Latin for the Lamb of God. Another representation of the crucifixion of Christ.
The lamb is seen gently resting. The children are looking toward the lamb, walking in the
direction of the lamb. This symbolises the words Christ spoke in Matthew:19-14 where He
stated about the little children “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.”
Another subtle representation of Christ as the Lamb of God. This also brings to mind the other
forms of Baptism recognised by the Catholic Church. These are the Baptism of desire and of
blood. We usually associate Baptism with holy water, however martyrdom is recognised as a
form of Baptism, and should one desire to be formally Baptised and received into the church
and die before they do so, they are too Baptised by their desire and for their love of Jesus
Christ.

Further Considerations
Why is Christ wearing a pink tunic and not red, or white as in scripture? Pink used to be quite a
common colour that Renaissance and Baroque artists would use for the pigment of Christ’s
robes and even sometimes the robes of the Virgin Mary. Most notable was the use of pink on
the robes of the angel Gabriel in Fra Angelico’s famous painting of the Annunciation. In a
contemporary artists handbook, Cennino Ceninni’s Il libro dell'arte, published a few decades
before Fra Angelico painted his fresco, stated that pink had been traditionally reserved
primarily for the rendering of flesh. “Made from the loveliest and lightest Sinopia that is found
and is mixed and mulled with St. John’s white”. By draping Gabriel in the lushest of pinks, Fra
Angelico symbolises the Archangel as a being of body and blood, breaking down the
distinction between holy spirit and ephemeral flesh. Pink is the pivot that humanises
heaven. When Christ is painted wearing pink robes it is a subtle symbolism of the Eucharist, the
body and blood of Christ and of Christ being God made flesh.

Sinopia was a pigment derived from hematite, a form of iron oxide. St Johns white was made
of chalk, turned into calcium carbonate. Also known as Bianco San Giovanni pigment it
originated in Florence Italy where St John is the patron. This white pigment differs from that of
other white pigments due to the process in which it’s made where the chalk stone is soaked for
prolonged periods in water then dried and soaked again repeatedly, a process which makes it
whiter and more pure by releasing the calcium. This process of pigment making is why this
particular white was known as St Johns white. The water, like the sacrament of Baptism has
cleaned the chalk of any impurities and brightened its very substance, changed it into a new
substance altogether, one which is more radiant, pure and brilliant.

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Discussion
In a group session either via Zoom or in a Parish setting, discuss the painting, the sacrament of
Baptism, the different forms of Baptism, the Lamb of God and how we can imitate St John by
evangelising in our modern era. Art is open to interpretation and meaning, ask one another
questions, seek individual interpretation and share what this depiction of Christ and St John
means to you.