This drawing depicts the arrival of the Apostles Peter and John at the tomb, as described in the Gospel of John:
And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.At the moment depicted here, John has arrived first, and is stooping to look into the tomb. Peter, somewhat out of breath, has just arrived. As is traditional, John is depicted young and beardless, and Peter older, with a short full beard and the top of his head bald. In medieval art, the Apostles are almost always depicted barefoot.
The stone that has been removed from the tomb is in the shape of a tablet, and has the beginning of the Decalogue written on it. This refers to an association made by the Church Fathers (Augustine, Bede, the Glossa Ordinaria) between the stone and the Law of Moses: As in the Old Testament, the spirit was hidden beneath the letter so Christ was hidden beneath the stone.
Before the tomb are several cabbages. This shows that the Resurrection happened in a garden, and refers also to an ancient anti-Christian polemic refuted by Tertullian. This polemic claimed that the dead body of Jesus was actually removed by a gardener, who did not want curious crowds coming to see it, and trampling his cabbages. While I certainly disbelieve this claim, I like to imagine that Jesus showed concern for the man who kept the garden, and that when He appeared as a gardener to Mary Magdalen, He was busy miraculously healing the damaged vegetables. The sword, dice, and playing cards scattered among the plants were left by the fleeing guards.
In all drawings of the Summula Pictoria, I use the translucent calfskin for artistic effect, drawing certain details on the reverse side. These appear more or less distinct depending on how much light is shining through the drawing. Here, those details include the inscription on the removed stone, the shadows inside the tomb, and the damask patterns on the Apostles’ cloaks.
The damask patterns are in the style of medieval millefleur tapestries. They include a symbolic emblem of a phoenix rising from its ashes, a traditional symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Summula Pictoria, I depict halos according to a system that I myself invented. The light blue in the Apostle John’s halo connects him to the Virgin Mary, the only other person whose halo includes this color. John stood beside the Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus named him her son. According to longstanding and widely believed traditions, John was like the Virgin Mary bodily assumed into heaven shortly after his death, and will together with her intercede for humanity at the Last Judgment.
Medium: Drawing, color ink on calfskin vellum
Dimensions: 6" × 6 3/4"
Year: 2023
Open-edition giclée prints of this drawing are available. You may use the buttons below to pay via PayPal, debit card, or credit card. Be sure to confirm the shipping address.
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Actual size art print: $34
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13" × 14" large print: $68
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200dpi digital download: $7
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See this page for additional ordering instructions and general information. If you want to pay via a check or money order, please e-mail me at danielmitsui@danielmitsui.com.
