David Landry

February 12, 2023

Christian Art Iconography

Prof. Guerri

Icons of Christ: Comparing Dieric Bouts, Holy Face of Jesus &

Francisco de Zurbarán, Veil of Veronica

(Bibliography & Research Question)

4 outside scholarly works:

 Baticle, Jeannine (1987). "Francisco de Zurbaran: A

Chronological Review". In Baticle, Jeannine
(ed.). Zurbaran. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
 Mallory, Nina A. (1990). El Greco to Murillo: Spanish
Painting in the Golden Age, 1556-1700. Harper &
Row. ISBN 978-0-06-435531-5.
  Lesberg, Sandy, ed. (1974) [1966]. "Glossary of Gothic
Art". Gothic Art. New York: Peebles Press
International. ISBN 0-85690-033-8. OCLC 2163980.
 Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Bouts,
Dirk"  . Encyclopedia Americana.

Create a research question and write eight sentences stating the

purpose and goals of your paper.

Research question: What is the purpose of the Icon of Christ and

how is that articulated through the styles of these two

paintings?
1) In my paper, I will seek to show that the purpose of the two

icons, by Bouts and Zurbaran, is to give the viewer look

into a spiritual meditative mirror.

2) Both works done by Dieric Bouts and Francisco de Zurbaran,

though they are painted in different styles, are both used

as meditative tools by Christians during the respective eras

of the painters.

3) I will also seek to show the common symbols and iconography

in both paintings lens themselves to be interpreted in the

same way: as tools of spiritual meditation and contemplation

on the suffering and passion of Jesus Christ.

4) One of the iconic symbols that I will compare is the

appearance of the crown of thorns used as a torture device

for Christ during his arrest and trial. This shows that the

painter, if we are to use the metaphor of a meditative

mirror, wants us to view the suffering of Christ as ever

evident, not as something that was fleeting.

5) Another iconic symbol that I plan on alluding to is the

appearance of facial hair on the face of Jesus Christ, as

this pertains to the symbolism of wisdom, per our discussion

of the nature of Christ being the philosopher and teacher.

This beard imagery is usually viewed as a symbol of wisdom,

especially divine wisdom from God.

6) I also plan on writing about the expression on each of the

faces painted by Bouts & Zurbaran.

7) I also plan on discussing the appearance of blood in both

paintings, to give insight on how much suffering Christ went

through during the passion.

8) Finally, I plan on bringing the conversation to a close by

explaining how individuals used the symbolism of the veil of

Veronica as a tool for individual self-meditation.