Collection

The Pardon of the Good Thief (Le pardon du bon Larron)

James Tissot

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

As Christ and the thieves condemned to die along with him hang on their crosses, one mockingly demands that Jesus, as the Christ, relieve them of their sufferings. The other criminal reminds his fellow of the justness of their punishments, in contrast to the innocence of Jesus. “Touched,” Tissot writes, “by the divine gentleness of the crucified Saviour,” the penitent thief then asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom; Jesus replies that today the thief will be with him in paradise.

Caption

James Tissot (Nantes, France, 1836–1902, Chenecey–Buillon, France). The Pardon of the Good Thief (Le pardon du bon Larron), 1886–1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 14 1/4 x 8 1/16 in. (36.2 x 20.5 cm) Sheet: 14 1/4 x 8 1/16 in. (36.2 x 20.5 cm) Frame: 22 7/8 x 16 7/8 x 1 1/2 in. (58.1 x 42.9 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.296. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

The Pardon of the Good Thief (Le pardon du bon Larron)

Date

1886–1894

Geography

Place made: France

Medium

Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper

Classification

Watercolor

Dimensions

Image: 14 1/4 x 8 1/16 in. (36.2 x 20.5 cm) Sheet: 14 1/4 x 8 1/16 in. (36.2 x 20.5 cm) Frame: 22 7/8 x 16 7/8 x 1 1/2 in. (58.1 x 42.9 x 3.8 cm)

Signatures

Signed bottom right: "J.J. Tissot"

Credit Line

Purchased by public subscription

Accession Number

00.159.296

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Artists and makers

James Tissot

524 works in the collection