Veil of Veronica - Representative Art

Representative Art

There are two main traditions for the iconography of the face depicted on the veil. One tradition (Type I), common in Italian art, shows the face of Christ as full-bearded, in pain, scourged and perhaps crowned with thorns. Another (Type II), common in Russian and Spanish art, shows Christ's face more often in repose, hair extending to shoulder length and a bifurcated beard, often surrounded by a halo quartered in a cross. Another (Type III), common in the Philippines shows Christ's face three times with hair down to the shoulder and with the Crown of Thorns.

Type I

• Veronica's Veil Domenico Fetti, circa 1620.
• Holy Face Giambono, fifteenth century. Civic Museum, Pavia, Italy.
• Holy Face Held by Two Angels Juan Sánchez Cotan, 1620-1625. Monastery of Cartuja, Granada.
• Holy Face Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco). Convent of Capuchin Nuns, Toledo.
• Veronica's Veil Francisco de Zurbarán, seventeenth century. Parish Church of St Peter, Seville.

Type II

• Head of Christ on the Sudarium Claude Mellan, 1649.
• Diptych of Saint Veronica with Christ and the Virgin Mary Bernardo Martorelli, fifteenth century. Museum of Mallorca.
• Holy Face, anonymous, early 17th century. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
• Holy Face Simon Ushakov, 1678. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
• Miracle of the Tear Juan Conchillos, 1680. Lady Chapel of the Monastery of the Holy Face, Alicante.
• Miracle of the Three faces Juan de Miranda, 1767. Alicante Ayuntamiento.
• Saint Veronica Antonio Castillo Lastrucci, 1946. Basilica of St Mary, Alicante.