Hospitaller patronage and the mural cycle of the Church of the Resurrection at Abu-Ghosh (Emmaus) – a new reading GIL FISHHOF (TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY)

A distinctive 'art of the Hospitaller Order' remains elusive, despite analysis of surviving Crusader-era artworks. Research into the mural cycle at Abu-Ghosh (Emmaus) and comparisons with frescos from Crac des Chevaliers and Marqab castles reveal no conclusive iconographic pattern unique to Hospitaller patronage. While some scenes, like the beheading of Saint John the Baptist, align with Hospitaller themes, others—such as depictions of hellish tortures or blessed souls—do not. This study challenges the notion of a coherent visual identity for the Order, highlighting the complexity and diversity of Crusader-era art.

(Ed.). (2016). Hospitaller patronage and the mural cycle of the Church of the Resurrection at Abu-Ghosh (Emmaus) – a new reading GIL FISHHOF (TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY). The Military Orders Volume VI (Part 1), 104–115. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315460895-19