A recent paper by H. Valdes-Socin and M. Vuidar [1] has reported an instance of a painting of Christ with female characteristics, such as breasts and feminine curves, suggesting a spiritual androgyny. This painting, “a Lamentation around the remains of Christ” dating from the sixteen century, can be found in the Museum of the Hotel Dieu in Lessines (Belgium).

I describe here an earlier such iconography (Fig. 1). It is the front cover of a codex from the thirteenth century, probably of Italian origin, made of ivory and displayed in the Cluny Museum in Paris. It represents a basic crucifixion scene and is analogous to many such items well described by Danielle Gaborit-Chopin [2]. The disposition of the figures is the same: Christ in the middle, surrounded by Jacob and Luke, the sun and the moon, Maria and Joseph, Saint Vitalis and Saint Valeria, Saint Pantaleon, Gregorius and a few others.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Front cover of a codex, (20 cm × 25 cm), made of ivory and dating probably from the late eleventh century. Possible venetian origin. Musée de Cluny, Paris

Full size image

Strikingly, the figure of Christ has very long hair and very feminine breasts. Like all the other figures, he also has a pointed beard. Although it is impossible to relate it to the content of the book, it is clear that it refers to the importance of the spiritual meaning of a suffering Christ, caring for everyone.