Paolo Morando Cavazzola, St John holding a lemon

 Nikola Benin

Paolo Morando Cavazzola, The Virgin and Child, Saint John the Baptist and an Angel - detail: St John holding a lemon (Hebrew: ethrog)

c 1514-18

75.6 x 64.8 cm

National Gallery, London (not on display)

Saint John's gaze.

He is depicted as a very young boy with wavy auburn hair, but easily identified by the Saint's traditional attributes: the animal skin garment, the wooden cross with the Ecce Homo banner and a delicate golden halo.

What is quite unique and at the same time puzzling is the fruit of lemon he is about to offer to Jesus. What is the key to its symbolism?

As an etrog of the Jewish rabbinic tradition it has a twofold meaning:  its shape is reminiscent of the heart, the centre of understanding and wisdom; as a precious fruit it has both taste and fragrance which stand for knowledge and good deeds. 

Some biblical scholars advanced the theory that the 'forbidden fruit' from the Garden of Eden was in fact the lemon, not the apple. (There are some depictions of Eve with a lemon, the most famous one is probably the figure in the Ghent altarpiece).

To the early Christians the fruit of lemon was associated with hope due to its bright and fresh colour and a promise of eternal life.