The History of the Church through 100 Masterpieces

Penance and Flagellants

The History of the Church 28 Penance and Flagellants The notion of penance—inseparable from the sacrament of confession —has at times assumed disproportionate importance, leading to a veritable culture of mortification Mortification could be real or purely ostentatious, such as when Tartuffe enjoins his servant, “Laurent, put away my hair-shirt and my scourge.” Paintings of self-flagellation, which exist in great numbers, often illustrate famous penitents, such as King David, Mary Magdalene, and Saint Jerome. But they also portray processions of Spanish flagellants, or stray into bawdy sadomasochism, such as in Nicolas Lancret’s painting where nuns scourge a young man under the pretext of illustrating La Fontaine’s fable “The Spectacles.” No doubt, eroticism has always been a more or less discreet component of religious art, certain themes serving as excuses for many a scene of nudity. However, beginning in the eighteenth century, religious subjects were often used only to add flavor to compositions that were clearly of secular or profane inspiration. Francisco Goya (1746–1828) Procession of Flagellants Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid ...