A unique Treasure : the Trees of Jesse in the Hospice Saint-Roch museum

Story

The Hospice Saint-Roch Museum a unique treasure in Europe, listed as a Historic Monument since 1908: two sets of wall sculptures depicting the Tree of Jesse. They both frame the stained-glass window depicting the Crucifixion in the apse of the Saint-Roch chapel in the former hospice.

Dating from the end of the 15th century or the beginning of the 16th century, these sculptures, over 5 meters high, were made from several blocks of fine limestone treated in the round and in high relief, then finished for their details on the wall itself.

Their iconography is dedicated to the Tree of Jesse which illustrates the double genealogy of Christ, spiritual and historical, inspired by a prophecy of Isaiah (11,1).

In the first set, Jesse is lying down with his eyes closed. From its trunk emerges a fig tree, each branch of which supports the ancestors of Jesus' earthly lineage, the kings taken from the Gospel according to Matthew.

On the second tree, an oak displays the spiritual lineage of Christ, supported by Melchizedek and bringing together the patriarchs and prophets, including Moses and Aaron.
This sculpted set, of great finesse of execution, was created by an anonymous workshop; only the execution of the prophets has been attributed to Gilbert Bertrand.