Jesus Walks on the Sea (Jésus marche sur la mer) By Tissot Public Domain with Ken Harley Digital Variations

 While Jesus retreats to the mountain to pray, his disciples travel ahead of him, sailing once more across stormy waters. Seeking to calm the frightened apostles, Jesus walks across the sea, but this further terrifies them as they momentarily believe him to be a ghost. 

Tissot attempts to explain the fears of the disciples, in a commentary that melds his interests in scientific observation and in legend: noting the early hour designated by the Gospel account—3 a.m.—and the weather conditions, he surmises that the darkness must have been complete. But finding no other explanation for a source of light to illuminate Christ, he concludes that “light emanated from His body, and irradiated all around Him to some extent.” He concludes that only the voice of Jesus with its recognizable “ordinary” salutation—“Be of good cheer”—could reassure the disciples.

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Addeddate

 

2010-05-03 20:47:04

Caption

 

James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Jesus Walks on the Sea (Jésus marche sur la mer), 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on green wove paper, Image: 11 3/16 x 4 13/16 in. (28.4 x 12.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.138

Credit

 

Purchased by public subscription

Dimensions

 

Image: 11 3/16 x 4 13/16 in. (28.4 x 12.2 cm); Sheet: 11 3/16 x 4 13/16 in. (28.4 x 12.2 cm); Frame: 20 x 15 x 1 1/2 in. (50.8 x 38.1 x 3.8 cm)

Identifier

 

brooklynmuseum-o4513-jesus-walks-on-the-sea-jsus-marche-sur

Location

 

France 

Medium

 

Opaque watercolor over graphite on green wove paper

Rights

 

No known copyright restrictions