Thinking Pictures notes based on Saint Teilo’s Church at St Fagans
The entry into Jerusalem
This painting shows Jesus entering
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday for the
Passover festival. He is riding a
donkey as a sign that He has come in
peace, rather than a war horse which
would be expected of a king. People
in the crowd are waving palm
branches and laying down their
cloaks. One man in the tree is
dressed in Tudor clothes. The
gateway into Jerusalem has a
portcullis and there is a tower in the
background, like a mediaeval castle.
The Last Supper
This painting shows Jesus and the
disciples gathered in the upper room
to celebrate the festival of Passover.
Judas is shown on his own in the
foreground. He is the only person
without a halo and appears to be
much smaller than the rest of the
group. Many of the disciples are
pointing at him and there is a knife on
the table which also points to him.
On the plate in the middle of the table
is The Lamb of God to represent the
sacrifice which is to come.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust
The Agony in the Garden
This painting shows Jesus and three
of the disciples in the garden of
Gethsemane. Jesus has asked them
to come to the garden to watch and
pray with Him, but they have fallen
asleep. Peter is holding a dagger or
small sword. Jesus is kneeling in
prayer. He is facing a chalice with
the host above it bearing the sign of a
cross as a symbol of what is to come.
The gate in to the city of Jerusalem
and the city itself are shown in the
background.
The Flagellation or beating of
Christ
In this painting, Christ is shown,
wearing a crown of thorns with
His hands tied to a pillar. He is
being beaten by what are
presumed to be soldiers and
the marks can be seen on His
arms. However, they are not in
Roman armour, but are dressed
in Tudor costume. Their faces
are exaggerated and grotesque
but the face of Christ is serene
throughout. It is thought that
this was to show ordinary
people that they were the ones
who had wounded Christ.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust
The betrayal of Christ
This picture shows Judas in the
Garden of Gethsemane with the
soldiers. He is kissing Christ to show
the soldiers which man to arrest. The
soldiers are dressed in Tudor armour
and are carrying spears. Peter is
shown in the foreground having cut
off Malchus’ ear. Malchus was a
servant of Caiaphas, the High Priest,
and his job was to listen to the
conversation in the Garden of
Gethsemane. However, Jesus healed
him.
The road to Calvary
In this painting, Jesus is carrying the
cross to Calvary. This cross is the
only one in the church which is T
shaped. The character at the base of
the cross appears to be taunting
Christ and almost trying to pull the
cross away from Him. He is also
pulling the girdle around Christ’s waist.
The figure behind Christ is thought to
be Simon of Cyrene, who is helping to
bear the weight of the cross. The
semi-circles behind them represent a
sea of heads gathered to mock.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust
The Crucifixion
Here we see Jesus being put on to
the cross. Once again the soldiers
are dressed in Tudor costume and
are wearing Tudor armour. One of
them is carrying a pike.
Mary, Jesus’ mother and two of the
disciples are shown at the foot of the
cross. There is a skull and crossed
bones at the other side possibly
representing Golgotha, the place of
the skull.
The Deposition of Christ
As was the custom, any prisoners
who had been crucified had to be
removed from the cross before the
Sabbath day which begins at
sundown. This painting shows the
body of Jesus being taken down from
the cross to be prepared for burial in
the garden tomb. The soldier who is
standing on the ladder, is dressed in
Tudor clothes once more. The man
taking the body from him is probably
Joseph of Arimathea. The wounds
are visible in Jesus’ feet, hand and
side. The woman in white is Mary,
Jesus’ mother.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust
Longinius
The painting on the wall to the left of
the deposition shows Longinius. He
too is wearing Tudor clothing. He
was believed to be an elderly Roman
soldier who pierced Jesus’ side with
his spear. The blood from the wound
is thought to have splashed on to his
eyes and cured his blindness. This
shows that even in death, Jesus
cared about and was able to heal
others, even those who were His
enemies.
The Resurrection
This painting represents Easter Day
and shows Christ stepping out of a
tomb. This is not a cave, but a typical
Tudor tomb. As Christ steps out of
the tomb, his right hand is raised in
blessing. In his left hand, He holds a
cross bearing a banner of life. The
guards are again wearing Tudor
armour and hold a sword, a shield, a
halberd and a pike.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust
Christ in the garden
In this final Easter painting, Christ
appears to Mary Magdalene in the
garden. He is draped in a shroud and
His wounds are displayed clearly. In
Christ’s left hand there is a standard
with the sign of the cross at the top.
His right hand is outstretched as a
gesture of refusal towards Mary.
The scroll at the top of the painting
bears the words, “Noli me tangere”
which mean “Do not touch me.”
The Mocking of Christ
This painting is very similar to the one
where Christ is being beaten. Here
we see two men, again in Tudor
costume, spitting at Christ. Their
faces are tormented, but the face of
Christ is serene.
Marian Williams: Thinking Pictures Easter Story notes ©Farmington Trust