 The Lord, Lysol, and Lazarus © 1995 Ginger Henry Geyer glazed porcelain with platinum and gold 8” x 3” diameter Adaptation from Duccio's Resurrection of Lazarus, c. 1308-10 In John's Gospel, the story of the raising of Lazarus is perhaps best told in the King James Version. Jesus has arrived long past the death bed scene, and Mary, the sister of the deceased, reacts with alarm to His request to open the tomb: "But Lord, by now he stinketh; He hath been dead four days!" In other words, “P.U.” In his painting of this pivotal miracle, Duccio employs the "smell gesture"—a bonafide term in art history. A man pulls his cloak up to his face and holds his nose. If I had been there, I probably would have whipped out a can of Lysol…"Eliminates odors and disinfects!" Jesus, however, goes beyond freshening the stench and zapping the germs. When he commanded, "Lazarus, come out!", life crept back into the wrapped body. It must have been a shock to the stern, scowling folks gathered around. On here, even Lazarus looks surprised, and a rosy hue overtakes his greenish face. This Lysol can bears the company logo of the rising sun. Lord knows that new life takes much more than an antiseptic squirt. |