Jesus og de 12 apostle: Jesus 1566 - 1654

Curator: Oh, hello there! Are you ready to see the world in the palm of a hand? Because that is precisely what this sketch of Jesus by Matthäus Gundelach seems to convey to me. Editor: It's captivating! There’s something so delicately powerful about it. The grayscale, the aged paper, it evokes a sense of history that’s deeply spiritual. It gives me chills. Curator: Crafted somewhere between 1566 and 1654 using humble pencils on paper, this drawing embodies Renaissance classicism. The paper is softly toned, with a hint of watercolouring I believe. Look at how Jesus dominates the composition! Editor: Absolutely, and I find it so telling how he’s presenting the Earth. It’s as if he’s not just holding it, but almost offering it to us— or is he offering protection. There's a pronounced use of contrapposto to suggest potential motion or just an unsettling momentariness as He poses here before our gaze. And, goodness, he barely even acknowledges we're there. Curator: Precisely! This portrayal differs starkly from many iconic representations of Jesus. There is none of the conventional warm, welcoming saviour—just that gaze directed elsewhere and the sphere in His arm. There’s a distance, perhaps. A profound acknowledgement of something beyond our world... but do you see how lightly that world rests within his care? It speaks to me of gentleness in great power. Editor: Yes, the details in the folds of the robes, the almost photographic accuracy of the bare feet, so earthly and grounded... all that renders this depiction so vivid. I wonder what this signified to Gundelach; beyond the religious, I cannot help but also think about a statement being made regarding artistic prowess and perspective. Curator: An exceptional piece for its era, hinting at dialogues still pertinent today between humankind, Divinity, and mortal agency! Thanks for exploring this sketch with me! Editor: A pleasure indeed!