Lamb of God Agnus Dei Artwork and Paintings

Collected by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Part of JesusWalk -- Behold the Lamb of God

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New discipleship / spiritual formation curriculum for new believers

Ontario, Canada, church doorway, Behold the Lamb of God, mosaic with gilded sun above Lamb.

The Agnus Dei or Lamb of God symbol, typically shows a lamb, holding a cross or a flag. The Agnus Dei probably goes back to 5th century Rome. Discs of wax imprinted with the lamb, blessed by the Pope, were used from the ninth century, and probably earlier. 

One of the few Christian symbols dating from the first century is that of the Good Shepherd carrying on His shoulders a lamb or a sheep, with two other sheep at his side. Between the first and the fourth century eighty-eight frescoes of this type were depicted in the Roman catacombs.

In the Agnus Dei symbol, the lamb was used to symbolize innocence and was also a sacrificial animal.  the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God, is an ancient symbol of Christ and His sacrifice.  The cross stands for Christ's victory over sin and death. Biblical references include John 1:29 and Revelation 14. In ancient examples of the Agnus Dei may be seen lying upon the Book of Seven Seals or carrying the Banner of Victory. It must be crowned with a three-rayed nimbus or halo, signifying that it is a symbol of divinity. In other examples the Lamb stands upon a hill from which flow the Four Rivers of Paradise, signifying the Four Gospels. 

In Christian symbolism, the lamb represents Jesus, "the lamb of God." Standing with a banner, the lamb represents the risen Christ triumphant over death. Standing with a cross and a gash in its side, it symbolizes the passion of Christ. Seated on a throne or a book, the lamb represents the judgment of Christ. Because the lamb is humble, gentle, and innocent, lambs are often engraved on the tombstones of children.

San Vitale, Ravenna (begun 532, consecrated 547A.D), Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Detail of  Central Medallion, large photo, detailed image.

Paintings of Lamb of God or Agnus Dei

• Drawing for the Agnus Dei, Giulio Romano, ink on paper c.1540
• Adoration of the Lamb, by Jan van Eyck (1432), oil on wood, Ghent altarpiece, Cathedral of St. Bavo, Ghent.
• Paul Myhill, Agnus Dei (contemporary painter)
• Early fresco, Swedish site.
• The Lamb of God in the heaven.ceiling of the vatican embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria
• Lamb of God, pencil drawing by Marybeth Stafford, contemporary artist.
• Overwhelming Love, painting by Marybeth Stafford, contemporary artist. Close-up of sinful woman anointing Jesus feet with perfume. 
• Izumi Fukushima, Japanese-style painting artist, Romanesque Lamb of God. Contemporary painter.

• Niko Pirosmani, God's Lamb,  Oil on oil-cloth, 55x61 cm. The State Museum of Fine Arts of Georgia, Tbilisi. 

• Painting of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) above the apse windows by Joseph Reiter. St. Vincent Bascilica Parish, Latrobe, PA.

• Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Ireland, Saint Peter’s Chapel, the Jellett window with Lamb of God, created by C.E. Kemp.

Woodcuts

Detail  of "Adoration of the Lamb"  (1496-98) woodcut by Albrecht Dürer. Larger image.

Albrecht Dürer (German painter, 1471-1528), Adoration of the Lamb (1496-98), woodcut in Apocalypse of St. John series, each 39 x 28cm,  Detail. Another. Another.

Francisco de Zurbarán, (Spanish painter, 1598-1664)

• Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664), "Agnus Dei" (1635-40) ,Canvas 38 x 62 cm. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. Larger image.

  Agnus Dei (1635-40), bound lamb with horns. Canvas 38 x 62 cm. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.
• Agnus Dei (1638), bound lamb without horns, but with halo, 14 x 20 1/2 inches (35.6 x 52 cm).Oil on canvas, San Diego Museum of Art. Find in Artist index under Zurbarán.

Sculpture, carving of Lamb of God

• Ivory Plaque with Agnus Dei on a cross between emblems of the Four Evangelists, probably 9th century German or North Italian, Ivory; 9 1/4 x 5 3/8 in. (23.5 x 13.7 cm), Metropolitan Museum, New York
• Spanish Coin: 1/2 Blanca del Agnus Dei (vellón), 1379-1390
• Imaxes de Vedra, Santo André de Illobre, Agnus Dei na igrexa parroquial.
• Bronze Agnus Dei sculpture, unknown location.
• El Cordero de Dios (Agnus Dei), symbol over unknown cathedral entrance
• Cerreto di Spoleto, Umbia, Italy. Agnus Dei carved in rock.
• Lamb of God Bas-Relief, A stone bas-relief reproduced from an early Christian sarcophagus in Saint Apollainaire Church in Ravenna. The lamb, one of the earliest symbols of Christ, is heralded by the dove of the Holy Spirit carrying a wreath of victory. Hyrdostone with marble finish, 7" x 7"
• Templar 'Lamb of God' seal
• Maulbronn Monastery church Baden-Wuerttemberg, ceiling rib vault bosses (1424), Lamb of God.
• Sisters of the Lamb of God, wooden cross-shaped plaque. Les Servantes de l'Agneau de Dieu
• Carving of Agnus Dei, a Knights Templar symbol, by Andrew's Carvings, Andrew Howe, Scotland.

Piero della Francesca (1416-1492), Resurrection of Christ (1463-65), Mural in fresco and tempera, 225 x 200 cm, Pinacoteca Comunale, Sansepolcro 

Painting of Scene with John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God

Dieric Bouts d. Ä. (1410 - 1475), "Ecce Agnus Dei", (1462/64), Holz, 53,8 x 41,2 cm
Erworben 1989 mit Unterstützung der Kulturstiftung der Länder.

Agnus Dei Stained Glass Windows

• Tim McClure, Agnus Dei window

  Dollis Hill, London, Ecce Agnus Dei, by Margaret Edith Rope ("Tor")
• Croydon, All Saints, Agnus Dei.
• Tim McClure, Agnus Dei, unknown location
• James Powell & Sons stained glass, Agnus Dei detail, at Holy Trinity church, Lomas de Zamora. They were designed by one of the firm's principal artists, Charles Hardgrave, and date from 1896.
• Les Vitraux II, stained glass Agnus Dei window with John the Baptist and a lamb.
• Jesus the Lamb of God, All Saints Episcopal Church, San Francisco, CA.
• Memorah and Lamb of God Windows at Immanuel Seymor
• The Lamb of God window, beside the Sacred Heart Altar, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Munich Studios  stained glass, Wyandotte, Michigan
• Curtis Graphics, Lamb of God window
• Lamb on sacrificial altar window, unknown location.

Mosaic Tile

• San Vitale, Ravenna (begun 532, consecrated 547A.D), Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Detail of  Central Medallion, large photo, detailed image.
• Ontario, Canada, church doorway, Behold the Lamb of God, mosaic with gilded sun above Lamb.
• Floor of Nativity of Mary Blessed Virgin Catholic Chruch, Schulenburg, Texas, Lamb of God.

Miscellaneous

• Tile Agnus Dei, at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh.
• Reliquary Casket with the Lamb of God and a Personification of the Church, French (Limoges)
  About 1185-95, Champlevé enamel on copper, Width 15.4 cm x height 14.5 cm x depth 6.9 cm
  Private collection
• Banner, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Everett, WA
• Lamb of God praise banner

Collections

• Mnemosyne MIA : ICONCLASS 11D1311 lamb bearing cross or banner, 'Agnus Dei' ~ symbol of Christ. Shows manuscript examples.

Part of JesusWalk -- Behold the Lamb of God

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