Early Christian Artwork

Andrew Criddle, posting at Hypotyposeis, noted that the earliest Christian artwork was not the depiction of a suffering Christ on the cross but a Christ victorious on the cross. Criddle, writing at another site, wrote: “Early representations of the crucifixion are generally of the Christus Victor type with little indication of suffering and death and with Christ almost 'reigning from the cross'. Later the Christus Patiens type becomes prominent with the suffering and death of the crucified savior made more prominent. This later develops particularly in the Western tradition after 1000 CE into images emphasizing the pathos of the crucifixion and designed to encourage meditation on Christ's suffering.”

Is this artwork evidence that the victory motif was the earliest?

Copyrighted 2006

Religion
Christianity
Gospel of Luke