13th representation of the Tree of Jesse, ivory panel, Louvre

The Tree of Jesse, in traditional Christian art, is a visual representation of Jesus' ancestry. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1360x1190, 1052 KB) Description Description: The Tree of Jesse, representing the ancestry of Jesus Christ. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1360x1190, 1052 KB) Description Description: The Tree of Jesse, representing the ancestry of Jesus Christ. ... I.M. Peis Louvre Pyramid: one of the entrances to the galleries lies below the glass pyramid. ... Jesse or Yishai (Hebrew יִשַׁי / יֵשַׁי, Standard Hebrew Yíšay / Yéšay, Tiberian Hebrew Yíšay / Yēšay) is the father of the Biblical King David mentioned in the Books of Samuel of the Hebrew Bible. ... Christian art is art that spans many segments of Christianity. ... Jesus (8-2 BC/BCE — 29-36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ...

In medieval Christian legend, it is also the physical tree from which the True Cross was made. However the references to the tree of Jesse in the Bible are most often taken to be only figurative. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... According to Christian tradition, the True Cross is the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. ... The Gutenberg Bible owned by the United States Library of Congress The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hē biblos, the book) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Work of God, The Word of God, The Word, The Good Book, Scripture, or The Scriptures), is the name used by Jews and Christians...

Christians use the Jesse Tree in advent by hanging certain decorations on the tree or taking some off.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ has been a subject often selected by Christian Artists for representing the ancestry of Christ from Jesse. From the eleventh century the 'Tree of Jesse' has been portrayed in religious illuminations, manuscripts, wall paintings, wood carvings and stone including a tomb stone; stained glass windows, floor tiles and embroidery. The idea of treating Christ's Genealogy under the semblance of a vine, arose most probably from the passage in the book of Isaiah 11:1-3, the R.S.V Bible reads: 'And there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots........' In the representation of the Tree, it is usual for Jesse to be portrayed recumbent with a tree rising from his body, and the ancestors of Christ depicted in its branches with Prophets, and Christ at the summit. The earliest illustrated manuscripts did not always depict Jesse or Christ. The genealogy in the Tree of Jesse usually follows the genealogy of Christ in the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel. Not all illustrations include the same figures, the number of characters depicted are determined by the size of the area provided for the illustration, such as seven light windows or three light windows.

Malcolm Low has researched the subject and recorded over 300 illustrations found in Cathedrals, Churches, Museums, State owned buildings and Libraries throughout the British Isles, Ireland and in Countries from Austria to Turkey; the United States of America and South America.

Examples

• Portsmouth, Milton. Hampshire. St. James’s Church, The consecration of St. James Church took place in 1913, built on a north-south axis in Gothic form. The addition of the Tree of Jesse stained glass east window, inserted to mark the church's 21st anniversary (1954). The window by Sir Ninian Comper shows the descent of Jesus, through Mary, from King David, the youngest son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite.

• Slough, Britwell. Berkshire. St. George’s Church. Five light window mentioned in the church inventory Tree of Jesse demolished in October 2004. Huge and spectacular window in one inch thick glass, set in concrete. Maker Powell, James & Sons and John Baker 1960

• Swavesey, Cambridgeshire. St. Andrew’s Church. The east window in the Lady Chapel contains a 1967 Tree of Jesse by Francis Skeat. In the letters to the incumbent and the churchwardens Skeat writes;

The window scheme of my design is intended to symbolise the descent of Our Lord from Abraham and the patriarchs as detailed in the opening chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. It is not merely a Jesse Tree since it goes back before his time...........

Jesse appears in the right hand light and is in a standing position facing left. The figures in the window are; first light Boaz. second light Ruth and above her Jacob. middle light Abraham and Isaac above them Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, at the top Asa. fourth light David with Solomon above him. fifth light Jesse.

The text Skeat quotes at the bottom of the window reads;

‘Who for us men, and for our Salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.’

• Clermont-Ferrand, France. Cathedral Notre-Dame. Tree of Jesse Rose window 1992; centre the Virgin seated, crowned, on her lap the Christ-child with his arms extended. Eight glass medallions surrounding contain Jesse lying in the lower medallion, other figures including David and Solomon each holding scrolls, in the top medallion the Holy Spirit represented by a Dove.

• Chicago. U.S.A. The [newly built] Saint Louis Abbey. Jesse Tree window, a fine arts project by students made the window over a period of 4 1/2 years. Twenty-one panels making up the 16’ x 5’ Jesse Tree window, based on the twelfth century Jesse Tree from Chartres Cathedral.

• Oxford, Oxfordshire. Pusey House Chapel. In the east window there is a Tree of Jesse commemorating Pusey, who was one of the leaders of the nineteenth century Oxford Movement in the Church of England. Pusey died in 1882 and Pusey House was established as his memorial. The window is by Sir Ninian Comper and contains figures of Old Testament prophets, and fathers of the Church, representing some of the areas of his study, surrounding Christ in Majesty and the Virgin and Child. The figure of Pusey can be seen, kneeling at the base of the second light from the right.

• Claines, Worcester. St. John the Baptist Church. A fine nineteenth century mosaic paving in the church depicting the Tree of Jesse.

• Moulins, Central France - Cathedral Notre-Dame. Tree of Jesse c15 - 16 century stained glass window.