Tree of Jesse - an artistic depiction of the family tree of Christ. A very common theme in European art from the 11th to the 17th centuries, still present today in the iconography of the OrthosBELOW. The main motif: from Jesse (the father of King David), resting on the ground, grows a stem or trunk of a tree with branches ending in images of Jewish kings and other ancestors of Christ. At the top was placed Mary with the child. Some simplified realizations reduce the number of people and characters present, but retain the essential symbolism. The source of the name and motif is a prophecy from the Book of Isaiah, which proclaims the coming of the Messiah: A rod will grow from the trunk of Jesse, a sprig will spring from his roots. Christians relate this very passage to the person of Jesus Christ. The list of ancestors usually comes from the first chapters of the Gospel according to Matthew or Luke.
Robert - 09.06.2008
