Similarities Between The Gospels Of Otto III

Word and Image - Gospels of Otto III If the cliché of “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true, then artists are faced with a predicament of creating a picture that exemplifies the right thousand words. Artists such as the anonymous artist who created “The Page with Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples” are valuable to authors of sorts to communicate to the audience visually. Whether it is to be communicated to young children, the public, or college students, a visual representation should stimulate a story in the mind of the viewer. The relationship between word and image is a major area of study in the discipline of art history. Through the analysis of a painting in the Gospels of Otto III, “Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples” I will compare and evaluate the similarities between these two forms.
“Word, noun, 1) a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.
2.) The text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music.” When “word” is define, listed underneath are over a dozen explanations as to what and how a word is used. The function as a word being a principal carrier of meaning is of great importance when dealing without a representative image to vouch for these words. In Chapter 13 in the book of John, words play a vital role in understanding what is to be learned without a visual representation. Word, being described as the principal carrier of meaning between note pad and mind, is the link to the cognition. The definition is also said to be text in lyrics of a song, which is also another art form, and although music is audible rather than visual it still conveys a similar translation. Word is a connection to the information that is given to the reader to absorb logically and more
direct. “Image, noun, 1) a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible. 2) A description of something in speech or writing.” The connection from image to the observer is that the information is being comprehended visually and less direct. The viewer is able to analyze this piece at their own difficulty and piece information together with their own knowledge of Jesus Christ.
This picture illustrates Chapter 13 of the Gospel according to John. It shows Jesus the night before his crucifixion along with nine disciples on the left side of the frame and two on the right side. Jesus gathered all of the disciples together to wash their feet. Peter who was one of the first to have his feet washed protested against Jesus’ act. Jesus, who is the focal point of this image, is dead center and the tallest of all the other bodies in this picture. He has one arm stretched out toward Peter as if telling him to remain calm and not to worry. Jesus and Peter exchange gazes as Peter also extends both arms to Jesus in what looks like concern. With one foot in the washbasin, Peter can be identified as confused and half in doubt about his future actions. We soon put image with word together to find out that Peter must put faith into Jesus’s words and do as he tells. On the right side of the page, a disciple is holding a bowl of water for Jesus to wash while another is bent over untying his sandals off of his own feet to have them cleansed. These actions are far opposite from Peters reaction to the Lord scrubbing their feet. Weighing down the left side of this portrait are eight disciples surveying the actions being displayed by these four main characters. Al except for one is looking up in awe of the church mounted atop of the golden frame that is surrounding Jesus. As well as the golden frame in the background, a gold radiating halo surrounds Jesus’s head indicating honor or sacredness.
In the words of John, lines 5-8 clearly describe the scene of the “Page with Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciple.” The emphasis of these few lines that start with “He putteth the water into the basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples (5)… If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. (8)” During these few lines I envision the scene being portrayed as the one in the “Gospels of Otto.” In the conversation between Christ and Peter I can imagine both of Peter’s arms reaching out to Jesus in disapproval for wanting to cleanse his feet. This section of the text worked very well visually in resembling what I had envisioned. The scene also portrays lines 13-16, “You call me master, and Lord… The servant is no greater than his Lord.” The scene with the main focus surrounding Peter and Christ imply a conversation between the two, and when reading through Chapter 13 of the Gospel I feel like most of the dialogue between these characters can be placed together.
The idea of word and image fit together like a puzzle piece, the only piece missing is the twelfth disciple, Judas, whom seems not to be in the portrait but in the chapter.
When a picture is worth a thousand words I feel as though the connection between word and image is portrayed well by the anonymous artist of “Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples.”