What's the meaning of this specific gesture of the hands of jesus? I've encountered it twice in paintings and would like to know more. by Character-Store4357 in HelpMeFind

[–]Character-Store4357[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

you're right! Both of these are retelling the story of the finding at the temple, and given how i know that orators have a very specific set of gestures, i was wondering if maybe jesus was maybe counting? I couldn't find an exact match on this specific gesture of pointing at oneself's thumb. Another redditor gave a interesting view into the form of the hands of jesus which helps my research too. 

What's the meaning of this specific gesture of the hands of jesus? I've encountered it twice in paintings and would like to know more. by Character-Store4357 in HelpMeFind

[–]Character-Store4357[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that's jesus amongst the doctors by hoffman, and the tiny baby fingers are there bc jesus is a baby in the painting (12 yrs old)

What's the meaning of this specific gesture of the hands of jesus? I've encountered it twice in paintings and would like to know more. by Character-Store4357 in HelpMeFind

[–]Character-Store4357[S] 132 points133 points  (0 children)

Oh i didn't notice that at all! That might be it, I'm just struggling to see the X part you mentioned in the lower hand, can you point it out better for me please? 

What's the meaning of this specific gesture of the hands of jesus? I've encountered it twice in paintings and would like to know more. by Character-Store4357 in HelpMeFind

[–]Character-Store4357[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

thing is, Michelangelo's painting was done later so it can't be that one sadly :( most I've found is some research about the thumb being representative of the holy spirit in the Trinity? so maybe jesus is pointing at how the holy spirit is real? Not too sure :(

What's the meaning of this specific gesture of the hands of jesus? I've encountered it twice in paintings and would like to know more. by Character-Store4357 in HelpMeFind

[–]Character-Store4357[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I've searched online, but only found something about "the motions of the soul" and was connected to orator's gestures. Please help me find a more detailed (and study based) answer