2-976-544 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Tree of Jesse, c.1500. Jesse lies sleeping on the grass in a walled courtyard. A tree growing out of his side is populated with Christ’s ancestors and is crowned with the Virgin and Child. David, the first descendant of Jesse is seated on the lowest branch of the tree, playing his harp. Beside the half-kneeling Solomon on the next branch, the second in the line of descent, his grandson King Abia is hoisting his aged father Roboam up onto a branch within easy reach on which Abia’s son Asa is seated with his legs dangling. The other kings in the same row are Ozias, Josaphat, Joram and Joatham. Grouped around the Virgin on the highest branch are the godless Achaz (with the sceptre), the pious Ezechias and the small Manasses. The third king, Abia, who is seen from the back, is wearing both a crown and a garland of roses on his head, and another rose garland like a sash over his shoulder. Josaphat is wearing prayer beads around his neck, just as the kneeling donatrix at bottom left has a rosary dangling from her forearm. This places the painting in the context of the rosary, a systematised cycle of prayers and meditation in honour of the Virgin.