Mona Christus

There is perhaps no painting more famous than Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. People from around the world come to see her and speculate over what is the cause of her smile. I too have visited The Louvre and seen the woman whose mystique has captured the imagination of artists and laymen alike. Recently, I was perusing religious art and found a close up of Christ. The painting is a concentrated view of a larger altar piece of Jesus’ Ressurection. Flanked on either side of the Lord is the usual suspects, Mary Magadelene and the Apostle John. The close up however, reveal elements that are similar to the Mona Lisa. There is a landscape in the background which has the same forest green trees, hills, and a castle tower which seems to be not to disimilar to the castle towers of the Mona Lisa:

Had the Christ painting been a portrait and not a altar painting in three pieces I might have been in led to believe this was made by Da Vinci and that the Mona Lisa was a Madonna. The Christ portrait has the atypical symbolism of The Ressurection paintings. He is caped in a red robe which reminds us of His Passion and the robe the Romans bestowed upon Him at the crucifixion (John 19:5) and it harkens to when Jesus shall return again with a robe dipped in blood (Revelation 19:11-16). In the Lord’s hand is a crosiger (staff scepter) which for Catholics connects to the procession of the cross prior to the Eucharist and Mass, while for Protestants it alludes to the rod of iron that Christ shall crush the nations with upon His return (Revelation 19:11-16). In the background to the left is Golgotha or Mt. Calvary with three crosses, one being Christ’s and the other two being for the two criminals: “ Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:32-55)

The complexion of Christ is reminiscent of the Last Judgement scenes: 

Which is more neautral, neither a smile as in modern Christ paintings or a frown and angry glare as found in Eastern Orthodox Icons. There is a sense of genuine engagement from the Mona Lisa Christus painting; a welcoming to His open tomb. There is reverent feel to Jesus’s face and posture, but it does not feel cold and too regal to relate to as in the case of Medieval paintings.  The Mona Christus like the Mona Lisa leaves the viewer with the impression that there is much to understand about what is seen symbolically, however, the Mona Christus is more easily disciphered because it’s subject and portrait is of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, while Mona Lisa continues to haunt people with the mystery of her identity. 

The Mona Christus is an inspiring piece, making us wonder what Da Vinci could have painted had he used the same style as he did with the Mona Lisa.