06 Works, Today, March 25th, is Saint Dismas's Day, With Footnotes - #83

Michelangelo Cerquozzi, (1602–1660)

The good thief, between 1620 and 1660

Oil on slate

Height: 41.5 cm (16.3″); Width: 26.5 cm (10.4″)

Porcini Gallery

Michelangelo Cerquozzi, known as Michelangelo delle Battaglie (12 February 1602 – 6 April 1660) was an Italian Baroque painter known for his genre scenes, battle pictures, small religious and mythological works and still lifes. His genre scenes were influenced by the work of the Flemish and Dutch genre artists referred to as the Bamboccianti active in Rome who created small cabinet paintings and prints of the everyday life of the lower classes in Rome and its countryside. One of the leading battle painters active in Italy in the first half of the 17th century, Michelangelo Cerquozzi earned the nickname 'Michelangelo delle Battaglie' ('Michelangelo of the Battles'). More on Michelangelo Cerquozzi

Saint Dismas, also know as the Good Thief, was crucified along with Jesus and another man also condemned of stealing. The only historical mention of Saint Dismas is from the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion. Because of his request of Jesus that he at least be remembered by Jesus when Jesus came into his kingdom, Saint Dismas was forgiven and promised entry into paradise.

Titian (1490–1576)

Christ and the Good Thief, circa 1566

Oil on canvas

Height: 137 cm (53.9″); Width: 149 cm (58.6″)

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio, or Titian (1488/1490 – 27 August 1576), was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. 

Recognized by his contemporaries as "The Sun Amidst Small Stars", Titian was one of the most versatile of Italian painters, equally adept with portraits, landscape backgrounds, and mythological and religious subjects. His painting methods, particularly in the application and use of color, would exercise a profound influence not only on painters of the Italian Renaissance, but on future generations of Western art.

During the course of his long life, Titian's artistic manner changed drastically but he retained a lifelong interest in color. Although his mature works may not contain the vivid, luminous tints of his early pieces, their loose brushwork and subtlety of tone are without precedent in the history of Western painting. More Titian

Perino del Vaga, (FLORENCE 1501-ROME 1547)

A Fragment: The Bad Thief (Gestas) c. 1520-25

Oil on poplar

123.4 x 83.5 x 3.0 cm

The Royal Collection Trust

Perino del Vaga (nickname of Piero Bonaccorsi) (1501 – October 19, 1547). Perino del Vaga received his early training in Florence under a friend of Raphael. About 1516 he traveled to Rome with a painter called Vaga, from whom he took his name. Two years later he was recruited into Raphael's studio. While collaborating on the Vatican Logge, Perino learned about stucco work and designing grotesques.

After spending two years in Florence to escape the plague, Perino was in Rome again by 1524. His Roman frescoes achieved a refinement and elegance of form by blending Michelangelo's grandeur and power with Raphael's grace. Through contact with Mannerist artists Rosso Fiorentino and Parmigianino, Perino developed a more ornamental style.

The Sack of Rome sent Perino to Genoa in 1528, where he formed an enduring local school and studied Giulio Romano's energetic decorations. Returning to Rome around 1536, he became principal decorator for Pope Paul III. His post-Genoa art profoundly influenced young painters developing the high Mannerist style in Rome. More on Perino del Vaga

There was a history between the two men.  33 years before, during the time of the massacre of the Holy Innocents, as Jesus, Mary and Joseph were fleeing from Herod. Leaving Bethlehem, the Holy Family entered the land of Egypt. They entered a forest inhabited by brigands. Among them was Dismas, a murderer and a thief.

Bartolome Esteban Murillo

The Flight into Egypt, c. 1647 - 1650

Oil, canvas

209.5 x 166.3 cm

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI, US

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (born late December 1617, baptized January 1, 1618 – April 3, 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter. Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children. These lively, realist portraits of flower girls, street urchins, and beggars constitute an extensive and appealing record of the everyday life of his times. More on Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Hidden from sight, waiting for an unsuspecting victim, Dismas saw the approach of a man and a young woman carrying a Child. The three travelers had some baggage. Dismas judged that this unprotected caravan would not offer resistance. He advanced to harm them.

His eyes fell on the Child Jesus and he stopped, marveling at the glorious beauty and majesty of His countenance. Deeply touched, he protected the travelers instead of harming them, and hosted them in his cave. 

Dismas offered everything he had. Upon seeing the respect of the thief for the Child, Mary solemnly assured him that he would be rewarded for his action before his death. Dismas continued his life of crime, but he always conserved the memory of that promise, trusting that it would be fulfilled. More on their first encounter

Master of the Aachen Altar

 Aachen Altar  centrepiece: Crucifixion, circa 1515 and circa 1520

Oil on panel

Height: 143 cm (56.2″); Width: 242 cm (95.2″)

Aachen Cathedral Treasury, Cologne, Germany

The Virgin Mary, in blue, is attended by Mary of Clopas and Mary Salome. St John the Evangelist is in red, with long, ginger hair. Mary Magdalene kneels at the foot of the cross. Longinus pierces Christ’s side. The good thief is on Christ’s right; the bad thief on his left. Christ on the road to Calvary is shown bottom left. Bottom right are Roman soldiers; top right is the Harrowing of Hell; and topmost right is the hanging of Judas. More on this work

The name Master of the Aachen Altar is given to an anonymous late gothic painter active in Cologne between 1495 and 1520 or 1480 and 1520, named for his master work, the Aachen Altar triptych owned by the Aachen Cathedral Treasury. Along with the Master of St Severin and the Master of the legend of St. Ursula he is part of a group of painters who were active in Cologne at the beginning of the sixteenth century and were Cologne's last significant practitioners of late gothic painting. More on Master of the Aachen Altar

The Roman Martyrology places his commemoration on 25 March, together with the Feast of the Annunciation, because of the ancient Christian tradition that Christ and the Good Thief were crucified and died exactly on the anniversary of Christ's incarnation.

The Good Thief was crucified to Jesus' right and the other thief was crucified to his left. For this reason, depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus often show Jesus' head inclined to his right, showing his acceptance of the Good Thief.

Russian icon with 5 themes. Fragment: Good Felon enters in Heaven

In the Roman Martyrology, the following entry is given: "Commemoration of the holy thief in Jerusalem who confessed to Christ and canonized him by Jesus himself  on the cross at that moment and merited to hear from him: 'Today you will be with me in Paradise.'"

St. Dismas is considered the patron saint of those condemned to death, of those engaged in dishonest business who would like to make restitution before they die but do not know how, of great sinners and prodigal sons, of those near despair because of irresolvable situations. St. Dismas also assists souls so that they do not die in final impenitence.

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.