It’s a moving scene: Jesus’ favourite apostle, John, rests his head on Christ’s chest. He puts his right hand into that of his master. And Jesus puts his arm around John’s shoulder.
Jesus and John sit together on a bench. It is as though they have become one: even their clothes are intertwined. This tranquil, emotional sculptural group beautifully illustrates John’s position as Christ’s favourite apostle. It is a world-famous work.
An intimate bond with Jesus of this kind was what the sisters of the Dominican convent of Sankt Katharinental in Switzerland strove to achieve. They commissioned this sculptural group from Master Heinrich von Konstanz shortly before 1300. Many people at that time yearned for a ‘personal’ bond with God, especially female religious. A sculpture like this helped them to feel this bond.
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