Vatican Museums: “Victory over Death”

As the Church celebrates Easter Sunday, we draw inspiration from an anonymous painting of the “Master of Mercy: Risen Christ” from the Vatican Museum’s Pinacoteca (1370-1375).

Master of Mercy: Risen Christ; 1370-75; tempera on wood; fragment of a lateral panel of a triptych; Vatican Pinacoteca (©Musei Vaticani)

Master of Mercy: Risen Christ; 1370-75; tempera on wood; fragment of a lateral panel of a triptych; Vatican Pinacoteca (©Musei Vaticani)

Jesus is depicted standing over an empty tomb to symbolize His victory over death. Behind His back is a rocky overhang along with luxuriant flowers and fruits. The Risen One holds a processional cross with a crusade banner in His right hand. He is dressed in a white tunic edged with gold, and is wrapped in a blue mantle with gold fringe. Visible signs of His Passion are still noticeable on His side and on His hands.

“Jesus Christ is risen! Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness! Out of love for us, Jesus Christ stripped Himself of His divine glory, emptied Himself, took on the form of a slave and humbled Himself even to death, death on a cross. For this reason, God exalted Him and made Him Lord of the universe. Jesus is Lord! By His death and resurrection, Jesus shows everyone the way to life and happiness: this way is humility, which involves humiliation. This is the path which leads to glory. Only those who humble themselves can go towards the ‘things that are above’, towards God. The proud look ‘down from abov’; the humble look ‘up from below’.”

(Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter 2015)

Under the direction of Paolo Ondarza

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