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Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Don't Kill the Fly

Madonna and Child,
Painted by Carlo Crivelli (1435-1495),
Painted circa 1480,
Tempera and gold on wood
© The Metropolitan Museum, New York


 This picture is from Christian Art.  Every day they send me the day's Gospel Reading and a piece of art.  There's a commentary on both the scripture and art.  This painting is today's, Mark 7: 1-13. Jesus in Mark's Gospel is trying to explain that God is unexplainable; He can't be boxed up; He can't be tied down.  

The same is true in art.  It doesn't have a fixed interpretation.  Everyone will focus on what speaks to them.  What do you see?
 
I'm afraid that the baby Jesus is going to squeeze that little bird to death.  It's a goldfinch, by the way.  Artists often put a goldfinch in their paintings to symbolize redemption.  

While you're looking at this painting, smack that fly in the bottom left connor, before it bothers the baby.  

Oh wait, it's not on the painting; it's in the painting.  See Mother and Baby, both are keeping an eye on it.

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