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Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Last Breath


Julien-Michel Gué (1789-1843)
Le Dernier soupir du Christ 
1840
Oil on canvas
185 x 260,5 cm
Musée de Picardie, Amiens


Gué was runner up of the Prix de Rome in 1815

This image in 1840  was extremely popular when first exhibited

Many prints were made. One of the prints is even in The Royal Collection at Windsor

John 19 describes the scene:
"25  Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. 
26 When Jesus saw his mother  and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” 
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. 
28 After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” 
29 There was a vessel filled with common wine.  So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. 
30 When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit."

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