He walks on wrapped in his mantle, a hand at his brow.
Bible in art · Mark
The Accursed Fig Tree (Le figuier maudit)
James Tissot · 1886–1894
Brooklyn Museum, New York
On a stony road outside the city, Jesus walks past a large fig tree with his mantle drawn round him, one hand at his head. Tissot painted the scene in pale morning light with soft grey shadows.
Behind him the disciples come along the road; one at the left lifts his hands to his face in surprise as he looks at the tree.
From the text
- “As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots” (Mark 11:20)
- “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.” (Mark 11:21)
The artist’s own
- Jesus walking on with his hand at his head
- A low stone wall by the road
Details
Jesus
The fig tree
A broad tree with spreading branches beside the road.
Surprised
A disciple covers his face with his hands.
The others
More disciples follow along the road.
James Tissot, French, 1836–1902. Brooklyn Museum, New York (Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.197) · 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".