Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

A Jesse-Tree

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

In the Middle Ages, the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would spring from the family of Jesse, the father of David, was interpreted visually as a family tree. Here, Jesse lies at the base of the tree which grows from his loins. The ancestors of Christ are shown emerging from the branches of the tree, the uppermost of which is occupied by the Virgin and Christ Child. This small picture is painted on parchment or paper, which was commonly used for manuscript illustration. It is painted in minute detail with tiny hatched brushstrokes, and most of the decoration is picked out in gold – techniques also typical of manuscript illustration. The painting was once believed to be by the miniaturist Giulio Clovio, but there is no evidence to suggest this was the case.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Jesse-Tree

Date

about 1535

Medium

Gum or egg white? on parchment or paper

Measurements

H 22.2 x W 14 cm

Accession number

NG3119

Acquisition method

Layard Bequest, 1916

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue