Gospel in Art: Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus

Head of Herod composed of the bodies of the Innocents, by anonymous artist, follower of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, late 16th century, © Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 28 September 2023
Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, 'John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?' And he was anxious to see Jesus.

Reflection on the painting

Today's Gospel reading shows how confused Herod got with all the events. The reading even says that 'he was puzzled'. Herod was intrigued with the figure of Jesus and wonders if he was the same person as John the Baptist. This short passage reading does make one very important point, though: to 'know about' a person or having 'heard about' a person is very very different from 'actually knowing' that person. Hearsay is dangerous. Herod heard about Jesus and judged him, without actually ever knowing Jesus and finding our who he truly was. Through prayer we can actually know Jesus. Through prayer we move from having heard about him to his becoming an acquaintance and then a very close friend….

During Herod's time, many stories about Jesus were circulating. Herod was not really interested in getting to know Jesus. He was rather interested in listening to all the stories and gossip, which is a whole different thing altogether. Even at the time of Jesus' trial, Herod is looking more at Jesus as an 'interesting' person, without taking any real interest in Christ or what he stood for. It is the same with our own friends and acquaintances. Some of them we really know well when we make the effort and spend time with them. Others will always remain at a more superficial level, as we don't spend enough time with them.

The painting here is done by a follower of Giuseppe Arcimboldo in the late 16th century. It is a portrait of Herod Antipas' father (called Herod the Great) composed of the bodies of the innocents that he killed… A very powerful and unusual portrait. Yes the massacre of the innocents defined who Herod the Great was. A scary and unattractive portrait. His son, Herod Antipas then went on to kill Saint John the Baptist. Quite the family! Arcimboldo already acclaimed fame during his lifetime for creating imaginative portrait heads made entirely of objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish and books. Being a court painter of portraits for three Holy Roman Emperors in Vienna and Prague, his still-life portraits were clearly partly intended as whimsical curiosities to amuse the court. After his death the heritage of Arcimboldo was quickly forgotten, and many of his works were lost. It was only with the advent of surrealism in the first half of the 20th century that art historian devoted again some time re-discovering his work.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-9-7-9-2023/