Opstanding van Christus by Hendrick Goltzius

Christ rises in a mandorla of light, holding a triumphal banner while stepping upon a skeleton and a serpent. The central scene is framed by a complex border containing eight vignettes of post-resurrection appearances and six circular medallions with symbolic objects. Notable emblems include Jacob's ladder, the Brazen Serpent of Moses, and the Hebrew Tetragrammaton.

This work exemplifies the Northern Mannerist use of 'typology,' where Old Testament symbols are interpreted as esoteric precursors to the life of Christ. The inclusion of the Tetragrammaton (the four-letter name of God) reflects the influence of Christian Kabbalah, which sought to uncover divine secrets through the study of Hebrew names and biblical emblems.

Inscriptions(Latin)

RESVRRECTIO CHRI Virga Moysi. Exodi. 4 Et accepit corpore, Ioseph inuoluit illud in sin-done munda. Matth. 27. Vermis Psal. 21. Et posuit illud in monume-to suo nouo quod excide-rat in petra. Et aduol-uit saxū magnū. Mat. 27 Dicit ei Iesus, Noli me tan-gere (nondum enim ascē-di ad patrem meum.) Ioan. 20. Scala Iacob. Gene. 28. Stella ex Iacob orta. Num. 24. Et factū est, dū fabula-re tur, et secū quærerent, et ipse Iesus appropinquans ibat cum illis. Luc. 24. Sicut me misit pr̄ et ego mitto vos. hoc cū dixisset, insufflauit: et dicit eis, acci-pite spm̄ scm̄m Ioan. 20. Candelabrum aureu. Exo. 25. יהוה Nomen Domini. Malac. 4. Deinde dicit Thomæ, infe di-gitum tuum huc, et vide ma-nus m̄as et affer manum tuā et mitte in latus meum. Ioan. 20. Et cum haec dixisset vi-dentibus illis eleuatus est: et nubes suscepit eū ab oculis eorum. Luc. 1. Lampas Isa. 62. Et venit Iesus, et accipit panē et dat eis et piscem similiter. Ioan. 21. Mors mortis. Ose. 13. Ascendisti in altum, cepisti captiuitatem. Psal. 67. Ero mors tua o mors, morsus tuus ero inferne. Ose. 13. Qui destruxit mortē, illuminauit autem vitam. 2. Tim. 1. Et exspolians principatus et potestates, traduxit confidenter palam, triumphans illos in semetipso. Colos. 2.

Translation

RESVRRECTION OF CHRIST

The Rod of Moses. Exodus 4.
And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Matthew 27.
The Worm. Psalm 22.

And he laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone. Matthew 27.

Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. John 20.

The Ladder of Jacob. Genesis 28.
A star shall rise out of Jacob. Numbers 24.

And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them. Luke 24.

As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. John 20.

The golden candlestick. Exodus 25.
יהוה
The name of the Lord. Malachi 4.

Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side. John 20.

And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1.

The Lamp. Isaiah 62.
And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them, and fish in like manner. John 21.
Death of death. Hosea 13.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive. Psalm 68. O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite. Hosea 13. Who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life. 2 Timothy 1. And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in himself. Colossians 2.

Opstanding van Christus

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