Roots of Divinity: Christ’s Family Tree in Northern European Medieval Art

Roots of Divinity explores the medieval fascination with Christ’s family lineage and its representation through biblical figures such as Jesse and David, especially the Tree of Jesse. Inspired by the Book of Isaiah, this imagery presents Christ’s ancestry as a tree growing from Jesse, his ancestor through King David. Popular from the 12th century onward, the motif connected Christ to his royal lineage and affirmed his role as the Messiah. The installation features works from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, dating from the 11th to the 16th centuries and originating from Germany, France, the Netherlands and England.

Jesse, c. 1500. Veit Stoss (German, c. 1445–1533).