Judge of Jesus (2017)

This abstract painting refers to Jesus’ mock trial which culminated in sentencing him to death. His apostles abandoned him. One denied him, and another led the Romans to Jesus in exchange for a few gold pieces. Jesus was aware of all of that. Were it not for his apostles he may not have had to suffer the passion or the pain of crucifixion. Therefore, one expects anger, however minute or, disappointment. Accordingly, upon reading the title of the painting, one would imagine it being splattered by thunderous red, dark shades of grey and mourning black, with harsh and heavy brush strokes. Yet, the painting is extremely peaceful and communicates that peace to viewers. The foreground is composed of varying shades of light yellow and a very light shade of grey. This is clearly an expression of Jesus’ inner peace. Yes, he felt the unendurable pain of the passion and the slow death on the cross, but he was above judging others and acted according to his nature, a nature which never wavered in all of its peacefulness, even when betrayed, denied and dying.

In Virtuso’s abstract painting, we notice a two-faced image of an individual belonging to a Jewish heritage. The use of a two-faced Jewish person represents the betrayal inflicted upon Christ from his own people. As the painting is about the judge of Jesus, the artist is trying to establish that the judge, and the entirety of the judiciary system was biased against Jesus Christ. The duality in the painting aptly represents the duality of man and our many inherent contradictions. We have always sought a savior, but we were equally quick to condemn him to death.

The Jewish leaders demanded of the Romans that Jesus be put to death (Matthew 27:22-25). They couldn’t continue to allow Him to work signs and wonders because it threatened their position and place in the religious society they dominated (John 11:47-50), so “they plotted to put Him to death” (John 11:53).