Prophet Jeremiah
Oil on Belgian Linen, 72" x 48"
Jeremiah predicts the forthcoming destruction of Jerusalem, as seen in the burning city behind the monumental figure of the prophet. He was entrusted by God to pronounce judgment upon the people, their weaknesses, and corruptions. Jeremiah’s prophecies are collected as the Book of Jeremiah in the Hebrew Bible.
Rosales turned to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling’s monumental Old Testament figures as an artistic model. Her depiction of the prophet as a Black man incorporates the Book of Jeremiah’s portrayal of African princes and pronouncements of Africa as a place of salvation. With Jeremiah’s prophecies visualized in the background, and a basket of figs symbolizing manipulation, the painting welcomes reconsiderations of Christian imagery.
