Several years ago I went to visit a good friend in Boston. We took a day to explore downtown. We went to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. What an incredible experience! I was totally enthralled as we wandered through the museum taking in all of the art. It was fantastic.
But I was stopped dead in my tracks by this painting that was hanging in an obscure corner of the museum. My friend lost me and I lost him as I stood before this magnificent piece for over an hour, just absorbing the power of the image. It is the French artist Luc-Olivier Merson’s Rest on the Flight Into Egypt, painted in 1879. I’m normally not into religious art. But this one was different. It completely caught me by surprise. It isn’t your typical holy family portrait. It is painted with a limited palette, dark, and the figures are sensual and somewhat realistic. Joseph sleeps on the desert floor. Mary, perhaps to protect herself and the child, is sleeping up between the feet of the Sphynx. A thin ribbon of smoke rises from the smoldering fire. The donkey sleeps standing. The only intentionally “religious” part of the painting is the glow around the baby. But it is perfect. The symbolism is what struck me. The good news, silently nestled in the arms of a foreign symbol.
I think, above all others, this is my favorite “Christmas” image. In fact, when I was at the BMFA, I purchased a print of the original. I have it hanging in my study. I look at it every day, and every day it stirs me.
By the way, I’m afraid that over this Christmas I might not be posting as much, but I’ll try. In any case, please have a great holiday time. I hope you are loved and know it. That’s my prayer for you.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
Dear David,
Beautiful! Thanks!
Merry Christmas,
Lee
Great picture – says so much with such serene. Merry Christmas to all!
That’s wonderful. Thank you. We are so overrun with nativity scenes that this is a most refreshing new angle. I like what you say about it, too.
The pic is calming. It is lovely, I understand your attraction to it. I wish you and your family a very Blessed Christmas! If you are around ontario, let me know…a round on me:)
~mp:)
Great picture and thoughtful insight. Just wondering if you know the story to the “2nd” version of the picture where Joseph is looking up at Mary and Jesus. I’d be curious as to story behind the alternate painting. I tried hunt the answer down, but to no avail. Thanks.
I saw the alternate version for the first time yesterday online. I have no idea where it came from. But it is so contrived I’m not surprised it isn’t famous. I like the more subdued one… the original. Less preachy.
I’m speechless. Wow, what a painting.
I too love this painting… have stood before it in Boston, in fact. Thanks for sharing your experience with it here.
Thanks for this – it really is wonderful
We have a coptic icon in the chapel in Geneva which includes the flight into Egypt but not like the boston painting
thanks it’s a really arresting image
Thanks. It is a beautiful picture.
Wow.