Adriaen Ysenbrandt: The Mass of Saint Gregory the Great (1510-1550)

(The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA)

The subject of this painting is a story from the late Middle Ages. According to the tale, a person in the church was doubting the doctrine of transubstantiation (the changing of wine and bread into the body and blood of Christ). Pope Gregory the Great, who was leading the mass, became aware of the doubter and prayed for a sign. The prayers of the pope were answered and Christ appeared above the altar, showed his stigmata and was surrounded by the instruments of his Passion. The doubter then became one of the deacons. This painting is from 1510 - 1550.