avatarMario López-Goicoechea

Summary

The article reflects on the traditional portrayal of Jesus in art, questioning why he is rarely depicted naked during crucifixion despite historical accounts suggesting he would have been, and ponders the implications of this artistic choice.

Abstract

The author was prompted to consider the crucifixion of Jesus in the nude after viewing a painting at St Bartholomew the Great in London, which was unusual in its depiction of Jesus without a loincloth. The article explores the potential reasons behind the common practice of clothing Jesus in art, suggesting that historical puritanism or anti-Semitism could be factors, given the Roman custom of public humiliation through nudity during crucifixion and the significance of Jesus' Jewish identity and circumcision. The author, an atheist, finds the naked portrayal of Jesus more relatable and humanizing than the conventional haloed images. The article also touches on the varying accounts of Jesus' garments as described in different translations of the Bible, and concludes by noting the author's personal book release and a call to support his work.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the traditional depiction of Jesus wearing a loincloth in crucifixion scenes is historically inaccurate and potentially influenced by puritanical values or anti-Semitic sentiments.
  • It is suggested that public nudity was a deliberate part of the humiliation inflicted by the Romans during crucifixion, and Jesus would likely not have been spared this indignity.
  • The article posits that the absence of a seamless undergarment in some biblical translations supports the idea that Jesus was crucified naked.
  • The author expresses a personal connection to the more human portrayal of Jesus without the usual religious iconography, finding it more authentic and emotionally resonant.
  • The author's atheistic perspective allows for a critique of religious art and its conventions, emphasizing the importance of historical context over traditional piety.

WRITING|CREATIVE WRITING|CREATIVE NON-FICTION

Notes on a Painting

Is prudishness to blame for a traditionally loincloth-clad Jesus?

Photo by author

Was Jesus naked when he was crucified? This question had never occurred to me until I was recently confronted by a striking painting of the Son of God in St Bartholomew the Great, London’s oldest surviving church. One in which his private parts were on display. After thinking long and hard, I came to the conclusion that at least in works of art, I had no recollection of ever seeing Jesus starkers.

Whether the reason is puritanism or covert anti-Semitism (as a Jew, Jesus would have been circumcised. Not something the dominant Catholic Church would have wanted to promote centuries ago), the fact is that a loincloth-clad Jesus is confusing. We know that when it came to meting out punishment, the Romans were ruthless sadists. Accounts of the time describe how criminals were forced to carry their own crosses to the designated place for their execution. Along the way, the Romans goaded the crowd to beat and kick the condemned. Part of the suffering of crucifixion was public humiliation. And public nakedness was as shaming as it could possibly get. It’s unlikely that Jesus would have been spared any sort of harsh, punitive measure. It makes sense, then, that he would have been crucified naked.

The story gets more muddled up when we read John 19:23. Some versions state that the Roman soldiers took Jesus’ clothes, dividing them into four shares, with the undergarment remaining. This was a seamless piece of clothing, woven from top to bottom. In other translations, both outer and undergarments are removed (interestingly, in my Spanish version of the Bible, the soldiers flip a coin to see who keeps what they call the “tunic).

Whatever the reason for covering Jesus up is, the truth is that for this atheist his nudity renders him more human than the traditional halo-ed depiction we’re so used to. I felt closer to the man in the painting at St Bartholomew than the miracle-maker I’ve read about so many times in books.

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