LIBRARY OF CONGRESS | St. John's Bible
Rendered in raised and burnished gold, the crucified figure of Christ dominates this composition. Luke's Gospel recounts that upon Christ's death darkness covered the earth for three hours, indicated here by the night sky, and that the curtain of the temple, shown as shreds of purple, was torn in two. The contrast of pain with the glory of gold relates this image to current theological discussions concerning the meaning of the Crucifixion in the contemporary world. The delicate gray border was printed with English lace, contributing to the recurring theme of textiles in
The Saint John's Bible illuminations. [
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| Preliminary sketch for the Crucifixion |
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