Description
This painting shows Jesus being accompanied by his disciples, while he proclaims the word in the enclosure. Tissot is well versed in the bible story as his devout Catholic mother instilled godly devotion in the future artist from a very young age.
The Portico was also a setting for another important passage in the Bible:
Then Peter said: "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankles gained strength. So he jumped up, stood up and walked and entered the temple with them, walking, jumping and praising God. And all the people saw him walk and praise God. Then they knew that it was he who was sitting to ask for alms at the beautiful door of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. While the lame man who had been healed clung to Peter and John, all the people ran to them to the porch called Solomon's, greatly astonished. - Acts 3: 6-11
So what is "Solomon's Porch"? When King Herod expanded the temple platform, he built a covered colonnade around the entire perimeter. The colonnade on the eastern wall was commonly called "Solomon's Porch".