Jesus stands at the water’s edge, seen half from behind, and points across to the boat.
Bible in art · John
Christ at the Sea of Galilee
Circle of Tintoretto · c. 1570s
National Gallery of Art, Washington
This canvas was long thought to be by the Venetian painter Tintoretto; the National Gallery of Art now gives it to his circle, probably to Lambert Sustris, a painter from Amsterdam who worked in Venice. It dates from the 1570s.
Jesus stands on the shore and points to a boat tossing on the waves. It has also been shown as Christ walking on the water, but here one man with a halo climbs over the side while another hauls at a net, as in John’s account.
From the text
- “By the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples” (John 21:1)
- “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore” (John 21:4)
- “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (John 21:6)
- Simon Peter “jumped into the sea” (John 21:7)
The artist’s own
- A wild, stormy sea — John’s account mentions no storm
- Quick Venetian brushwork, with flicks of white for the foam
- A thin halo for Peter as for Jesus
- Tall trees framing the scene like curtains
Details
On the shore
Over the side
A man with a halo — Peter — puts one leg over the side into the waves.
The net
A young man leans out and pulls at a net in the water.
The sail
A white sail swells in the wind; the others in the boat cling on and wave.
The far shore
Small buildings on a distant shore under heavy clouds.
Circle of Jacopo Tintoretto (Probably Lambert Sustris), Venetian, 16th century. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1952.5.27) · Oil on canvas · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)