Tiziano Vecellio, also known as Titian (Pieve di Cadore, c. 1490 – Venice 1576), The Crowning with Thorns, c. 1570, oil on canvas, 280 cm x 182 cm, Munich, Alte Pinakothek

What is impressing about Titian’s great painting is the excitement of the scene. After all, the Gospel story is already dramatic, as we can see from Mark’s passage: "And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head. And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him" (Mk 15:16-19, but also cf. Mt 27:27-30 and Jn 19:2-3). Jesus is abandoned in the centre of the scene, completely at the mercy of the four soldiers who surround him. The movement of the scene seems to be directed by the skilfully handled reeds. We can only imagine the pain that Jesus felt after each reed blow, because with the blow came the sticking of a thorn in his head.

The scene is set at night, as demonstrated by the five lamps in the top right corner, whose flames seem to burst almost as if one of the soldiers had hit the chandelier in the excitement of the action. This choice, as already mentioned last month, underlines that the whole story of the capture and death sentence of Jesus happens when the "empire of darkness" seems to prevail, as is evidenced by the dark grey clouds that can be glimpsed in the background, beyond the arc of what seems to be a balcony.

One final remark. In the bottom right corner of the large canvas there is a boy who holds some reeds and who certainly has just handed some of them to the soldiers; they’re the very reeds with which they are now striking Jesus. This boy is watching the scene impassively; he shows no compassion for Jesus, who is a victim of gratuitous violence even though he has done nothing wrong. Before the pain and story of Jesus, Titian seems to tell us that no one is guiltless and there is no room for innocence!

We are reminded of Isaiah's words: “The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Is 50:5-6).

As we contemplate his pain, as we look at his beaten face, let us open our hearts to repentance and compassion: "Jesus, the beloved son of the Father, have mercy on me, a sinner!”.