Nathaniel Under the Fig Tree (Nathanaël sous le figuier)

James Tissot · 1886–1894
Brooklyn Museum, New York

“I saw you under the fig tree,” Jesus tells Nathanael. Tissot painted a broad, low fig tree on a green slope, with men in striped robes sitting on mats in its shade as if resting in the heat of the day.

The tree fills most of the sheet with its grey branches and large leaves. Far off to the right, small in the sunlight on the hillside, a figure in white comes along the slope.

From the text

“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree” (John 1:48)

Philip finds Nathanael and says “Come and see” (John 1:45–46)

The artist’s own

A group of men resting with Nathanael under the tree

Striped robes and headbands of the region

Details

The fig tree

Grey twisting branches and broad leaves spread over the slope.

In the shade

Men in striped robes sit on mats under the tree.

On the hillside

A small figure in white in the sunlight beyond the tree.

Jars

Pots lie on the grass at the edge of the group.

James Tissot, French, 1836–1902. Brooklyn Museum, New York (Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.59) · Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper · Brooklyn Museum (Commons file page, «Permission»): "This image was uploaded by the Brooklyn Museum as a content partnership, and is considered to have no known copyright restrictions by the institutions of the Brooklyn Museum." — "No known copyright restrictions".

The verses

John 1:45–49Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” “How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”