Lamb of God

How's this for an evocative masterpiece? Francisco de Zurbarán's Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) painted around 1635-1640 is one of 50 paintings by the Baroque master that have gone on display in Brussels to celebrate Spain's Golden Age. Why the Belgians want to celebrate Spanish dominance is anyone's guess, but the timing is apposite: it is exactly 350 years since Francisco de Zurbarán died. Agnus Dei attempts to perpetuate the myth that Christ allowed himself to be used as a sacrificial lamb to save humanity. Note the halo. The painting is on loan from the San Diego Museum of Art, gift of Anne R. and Amy Putnam (CLICK).