Christ and the Birds

We were on a quest: a breathless, heart-pumping quest through unknown terrain in the wet spring. Rivers ran beneath quaint cast iron bridges adorned with birds, scallopped with sparrows in black filigree. Above and below real sparrows perched and swooped in the rain.

It was a classic scene. I had no idea what I was looking for, but was desperate to find it. The rain drizzled down and invigorated us.

Finally we came to an isolated cottage right across a small river. As we burst in through the door, there they were, facing us in all their provocative beauty. Paintings of Jesus in various erotic stances, leering at us seductively. None of them were graphic, but they all depicted him with an unmistakable "come hither" look, some even featuring him licking his lips or puckering them in a kiss. There was nothing chaste about this Jesus.

I have been trying to find the paintings on which the ones in my dream seem to be based. This Jesus was obviously very approachable and he seemed fairly well-fed too. Here are the closest I could find.