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    New Testament

    Jesus Christ

    Christ

    A cross inscribed in the halo often distinguishes Christ from those around him. After the Resurrection, look also at the wounds in his hands or side.

    Christ Pantocrator, detail of the Deësis mosaic
    01 / 04
    Feast
    December 25 (Nativity); movable feasts for Passion and Resurrection
    Era
    1st century · Roman Palestine
    Difficulty
    Beginner

    Iconographic Attributes

    Iconographic field guide

    Identifying features

    Cruciform halo marks divinity in many traditions. Blessing hand with Greek letters IC XC identifies Pantocrator. Sacred Heart is modern devotional type; Good Shepherd is early Christian. Christ is never shown with another saint’s personal martyrdom attribute unless in narrative (carrying cross).

    Clothing
    white tunic · red cloak · royal robes
    Colours
    white · red · gold · blue
    Symbols
    IHS · Chi-Rho · lamb · fish
    symbol

    Sacred Halo

    Cruciform nimbus = divine nature; simple halo may appear in transitional works—read context.

    symbol

    Cross

    Marks divine nature in Eastern and Western sacred art

    object

    Crown

    Passion iconography when Christ is shown as Man of Sorrows

    object

    Book

    Gospel book in teacher Christ or Salvator Mundi with orb.

    object

    globe

    Salvator Mundi: Christ as saviour of the world

    object

    crown of thorns

    Passion iconography when Christ is shown as Man of Sorrows

    Biography

    Life & legacy

    1 Corinthians 15

    Christian faith centres on Jesus of Nazareth, his death and his resurrection. Early Christian testimony to this belief is preserved in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Images range from the suffering Christ of the Passion to the Pantocrator, blessing with one hand and carrying a book.

    Four Gospels; creeds; Ecumenical Councils on Christology; iconographic handbooks (Ouspensky, Schiller).
    Representation in Sacred Art

    Narrative scenes to recognize

    Pantocrator
    Salvator Mundi
    Ecce Homo
    Sacred Heart
    Good Shepherd
    Last Supper

    Notable patterns in major works

    • Dome mosaics of Christ Pantocrator
    • Medieval Salvator Mundi globes
    • Colonial crucifixion groups
    Visual Recognition Guide

    1.Halo with cross (cruciform halo)

    Marks divine nature in Eastern and Western sacred art

    2.Blessing gesture (right hand raised)

    Christ as teacher and Lord (Pantocrator, Salvator Mundi)

    3.Sacred Heart exposed on chest

    Devotional image of Christ's love and sacrifice

    4.Crown of thorns (Ecce Homo)

    Passion iconography when Christ is shown as Man of Sorrows

    5.Globe or book

    Salvator Mundi: Christ as saviour of the world

    Patronage and Devotion
    all humanitythe Church
    Distinguishing Similar Figures

    Often confused with Saint Joseph: Both appear with the Christ Child in Holy Family scenes

    Often confused with John the Baptist: Both central in baptism scenes; John points toward Christ

    Notes from the Archive
    • Christ Pantocrator mosaics are among the oldest surviving Christian images
    • Salvator Mundi by Leonardo is one of the most famous portraits of Christ

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