Although this picture may appear somewhat odd, it represents, in fact, a biblical family tree. This type of subject is usually called ‘Tree of Jesse’, named after Jesse, King David’s father. The artistic concept is based on a passage from the Bible: 'And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots' (Isaiah 11:1). Jesse, the progenitor, is depicted as an old man sleeping on the ground. Out of his abdomen grow the stem and branches, on which Jesse’s descendants are seated in chronological order, starting at the bottom with his son David (with the harp). Together they are the subsequent twelve kings of Israel. At the top, we see the Virgin Mary with the Christ child, Jesse’s ultimate and most important descendant.
The identity of the painter of this fascinating panel dating from 1485 is controversial. In the past, it has been attributed to Geertgen tot Sint Jans as well as Jan Mostaert, who were both from Haarlem. Whoever it was, it is striking to see how innovative the artist has executed this rather common topic. Jesse’s tree is usually depicted schematically, whereas this painter chose to depict a real tree. Its location in a cloister garden hints at the occupation of the woman in white, who commissioned the painting: a nun. The man on the right is Isaiah, who points at the Bible passage quoted above. The roses in different places on the panel, and the rose garland which the woman is wearing, tell us that this artwork is related to the immensely popular late medieval Rosary cult.
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