Sunday, June 1, 2008

Depictions of the Holy Trinity


The Holy Trinity, one of the teachings in the Catholic Church, a teaching that states that there is ONE TRUE God that exists as THREE Persons--the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Since the only one who has a "visible" image to humans, that is, the only person that had a human form is God the Son, Jesus Christ there are many depictions of the Holy Trinity.

I. Three Different Persons
                    
          

This depiction typically consists of three different persons, for God the Father, usually a Father-looking person (one that has a long beard and moustache) that has a sceptre. For God the Son, usally someone who has piercings on his hands and feet, sometimes holding a cross, a flag with a cross or with his hands positioned to the "peace" sign. For God the Holy Spirit, the most popular portrayal is a white dove and usually a white dove that is lighted. The three persons are usally seated together (except for the Holy Spirit) with God the Son on the left, God the Father on the right and God the Holy Spirit between on top. They are also usually sorounded by angels/cherubims.


II. Two Identical Persons and a Dove.


In this painting of the Coronation of the Virgin Mary, you can see that the artist's portrayal of God the Father is identical to God the Son (Jesus Christ). This is because the Father really is invisible. In the Bible, the Father reveals Himself as fire, light just a plain voice. Jesus is the only one who really was visible to humans. The artist chose to not to make the Father a father-looking person or an aged one but someone that is identical to the Son since the Father and the Son are one. Here, the Holy Spirit is also portrayed as a white dove.



III. Three Identical Persons


You can see here that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all portrayed to the usual image of the Son. The Person on the left is the Son (the one with the lamb), the Person on the center is the Father (the one with the all-seeing eye), and the Person on the right is the Holy Spirit (the one with the dove). The artist literalized the teaching of the Holy Trinity as One God existing as Three Persons. Each Person is different from one another but all of them are God.



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Would you be able to give me any information on the painting of the Trinity showing Jesus depicted three times. Origin, painter, year, etc.? I'm doing some research on such paintings and can use any and all information on these paintings.

Thank you.

Jose Solano

solanoartsandtravel@charter.net