ArtistPeter Paul Rubens
Title
Lamentation triptych; "Christ on the Straw"
Date
1617-1618
Dimensions
54"x 38"
Current Location
Antwerp, Koninklijk Museum
The eagle alludes to Christ's Ascension as a creature associated with regal power and renewal. Through Christ's Death and Resurrection, He became the regal and powerful force of saving Grace behind a baptism of redemption. The allusion of the eagle as a force of renewal refers to an individual's baptism into Christ, who is submerged three times in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The eagle is connected to baptism, a symbolic renewal of Spirit, because the eagle also plunges to not only receive its sustenance from the water, but also to renew and restore. The food taken from the water provides his sustenance. Similarly, spiritual sustenance is taken by the followers of Christ who receive their New Life from the water in which they were baptized through the Father , the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, when an eagle is old, its eyesight dims and its feathers and wings become heavy. To rejuvenate itself, the eagle flies up to the sun to burn away the mist over its eyes and its old feathers. The eagle then plunges three times into water, restoring himself to a youthful state. It is known for its ability to look directly into the sun and for facing its young into the sun; those that cannot stare into the sun are cast out of the nest. Though the weary man cannot look directly into the sun, if God is the source of light, he is no longer weary.
Additionally, St. John the Evangelist is also identified with the eagle symbol. In his Gospel, he focuses on the redeeming qualities of Christ. Christ's Redemption of mankind is acknowledged by the believer through his/her baptism in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Acknowledgment of the Word and these Highest of Truths is parallel to the unflinching eye of an eagle. John is identified with the eagle, as Matthew is identified with the symbol of the man, Mark is identified with the lion, and Luke is identified with the ox. All four symbols of the Evangelist denote the various natures of Christ: a man (He is both human and divine), a lion (He was Resurrected), an ox (He was sacrificed), and an eagle (He ascended to Heaven).
In Rubens' "Christ on the Straw", 3 stages of Christ's life are depicted: His youth (left), His Death (center), and his Resurrection (right). Mary and Child are depicted on the left in a naturalistic style. The Christ Child is supported by his Mother as He looks knowingly towards His broken and dead body (center). St. John is depicted on the right as recipient of the Word ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." Jn 1:1-2). An eagle, or the Christ who Ascended to Heaven to be with the Father, embodies the Truth (The Word) and Life given to John. The overall mood of the piece reflects the somber lamentation of Christ, reflecting Counter-Reformation interests associated with Baroque Art.