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The Temptation of Christ
Sandro Botticelli (1445 – 1510)
Sandra Botticelli paints three stories within the canvas of The Temptation of Christ. Adorned with a typical Sistine chapel landscape Botticelli presents tthree different hree different
temptationstemptations in an eye pleasing way. Including this one Botticelli painted three paintings within the Sistine Chapel. The Temptation of Christ was his first attempt and trial and was used in order to determine his pay. This work of art is located on the north wall and tells four bible stories.
The first story on the left of the painting depicts Christ with the devil disguised as a monk. The devil tries to convince Jesus to turn the rocks to bread in order for him to prove he is the son of God. The devil says to Jesus "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down" (Matthew IV, 5-6). At the top of the Temple of Jerusalem Botticelli paints the pair again depicting the second temptation. In this episode the devil, dressed a monk once again, points downwards and says to Jesus
"If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down" (Matthew IV, 5-6). On the right, the final temptation is portrayed. The third illustrates Jesus, again with the devil standing on the edge of a rocky cliff. Here the devil tell Jesus that can have all the kingdoms in the world, instead Christ unmasks the devil, baring his body equipped with talons and horns, and casts him down. These three stories exemplify Christ’s power to resist the temptations, causing evil to loose each time.
The foreground is the only part of the painting that does not contain one of Christ’s temptations. Instead Botticelli paints the story of the Purification of the Leper. In the middle stands Nehemiah, a leader who was the protégé of religious rights. The Sistine Chapel was named for Pope Sixtus, and many believe that Nehemiah symbolizes him. While this painting is straightforward a few symbols still exist.
Along with Nehemiah representing the Pope, one other symbol is quite obvious. The oak trees in the left background are symbolic of the Pope and what was soon to be Pope. The large developed tree represented Sixtus, while the barren tree stands for Rovere. Botticelli paints this fresco in a medieval manner in order to contrast the events and shows Christ’s triumph.