Description

The scene depicts the search for the lost Christ. During the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Jesus got lost and the fresco shows his distressed parents. Mary is wiping tears from her face, with a visibly depressed Joseph standing beside her. St. Luke's Gospel describes the event accordingly: "Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him". (Luke 2:41-45).