“Rest on the Flight into Egypt” by Luc Olivier Merson 1879 (French, 1846–1920)
Can a painting convey holiness?
I believe this painting helps answer the question
One of my favorite paintings at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
“Rest on the Flight into Egypt” by Luc Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920)
“Fleeing persecution at the hands of Roman authorities, the Holy Family takes refuge in Egypt. Joseph dozes beside a dying campfire while his donkey grazes on sparse desert grass. At left sleep the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, crowned with a halo of light. They lie in the arms of a sphinx, its eyes turned to the heavens, where the first stars begin to appear. A successful Academic artist, Merson never traveled to North Africa, but his use of archeological detail creates the illusion of an eyewitness account, breathing new life into a time-honored subject…”
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/rest-on-the-flight-into-egypt-31734
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
♞
