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Rest on the Flight into Egypt (awesome painting with St Joseph)
Museum of Fine Arts Boston ^ | 2018 | MFA Staff

Posted on 03/18/2019 9:04:11 PM PDT by DoodleBob

Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1879
Luc Olivier Merson (French, 1846–1920)

DIMENSIONS
71.8 x 128.3 cm (28 1/4 x 50 1/2 in.)

ON VIEW
Frances Vrachos Gallery (Gallery 144)

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at mfa.org ...


TOPICS: History; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: art; flightintoegypt; lucoliviermerson; painting; stjoseph
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This awesome painting is currently on display at the MFA in Boston. I had a chance to see it in person, having admired it online for years. It is a breathtaking piece of art. When I saw it up close, I noticed the painter Mercer seems to have left clues that St. Joseph is NOT asleep....his right arm is not lying flat, his left-hand fingers don't seem to be resting, and Mercer's brush strokes above the Foster Father of Jesus suggest movement.

Yea, I know...this isn't theology and a 19th century painting isn't Scripture. But what a message: the head of the Holy Family does not rest, he is alert and on guard, ready to protect his wife and adopted son. He does not recoil in horror from his vocation. He certainly has things on his mind, and the path is undoubtedly hard. But he DOES NOT QUIT.

During Lent, let us pray that all fathers and husbands follow this holy model of fidelity to our vocation. The nation - nay, world - would be a much better place. And if you are in Boston, go to the MFA and see the paining in person.

1 posted on 03/18/2019 9:04:11 PM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

Is it likely that a Jewish family from antiquity would gather around and sleep below a giant pagan idol?


2 posted on 03/18/2019 9:08:37 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: nwrep

Oh, I’m not saying it is a perfectly accurate depiction of one of the many nights they spent fleeing murderers. Indeed, the Sphinx doesn’t look skyward. But if St. Joseph is awake despite exhaustion (I’m sure he wasn’t the one sitting on the donkey), his exercising of his vocation should be a model for us men and fathers all over the world.


3 posted on 03/18/2019 9:14:04 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: DoodleBob
Thanks, that's an old favorite of mine as well. And so is the MFA, mainly for the Egyptian collection.

4 posted on 03/18/2019 9:16:21 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (this tagline space is now available)
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To: DoodleBob

Amen

I always wondered what became of St. Joseph since not much is written about him but he is an excellent example for all men to aspire.

7


5 posted on 03/18/2019 9:22:22 PM PDT by infool7 (Observe, Orient, Pray, Decide, Act!(it's an OOPDA loop))
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To: infool7
…24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true. 25There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

John 21:25

6 posted on 03/18/2019 9:28:25 PM PDT by Dogbert41 (When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. -Luke 11:21)
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To: infool7

St. Joseph died when Jesus was about 29, just before the beginning of his 3 year mission. He and Mary knew what Jesus would have to do on the Cross.


7 posted on 03/18/2019 9:50:39 PM PDT by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys)
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To: DoodleBob

I had no idea they flew in.


8 posted on 03/18/2019 9:57:08 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: nwrep

You ever been in a desert, tired and worn out? Anything to lean on or give a bit of shelter is rare and appreciated. And considering that we are closer in time to them, than they were to the builders of the sphinx, I would say yes... without a doubt.

The people ruling Egypt then were far removed from that era too.


9 posted on 03/18/2019 10:02:06 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DoodleBob

The quality of light is beautiful,


10 posted on 03/18/2019 10:18:35 PM PDT by avenir
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To: Slyfox

And your source for this?


11 posted on 03/18/2019 10:43:10 PM PDT by Mom MD ( .)
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To: Mom MD

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich and Venerable Mary of Agreda.


12 posted on 03/18/2019 10:54:31 PM PDT by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys)
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To: Slyfox

No scriptural proof. I’ll go with not much is said about Joseph and we really don’t know what happened to him.


13 posted on 03/18/2019 10:58:18 PM PDT by Mom MD ( .)
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To: DoodleBob

Thank you so much. I’ve never seen this. Stunning...I just ordered it online!


14 posted on 03/18/2019 11:06:51 PM PDT by lainde
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To: infool7

Not much is written about either Joseph OR Mary because they are not the subject of the scriptures.


15 posted on 03/18/2019 11:42:48 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true. I have no proof, but they're true)
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To: DoodleBob

And beautiful painting


16 posted on 03/19/2019 12:22:04 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: avenir

The light is unbelievable.


17 posted on 03/19/2019 12:23:05 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DoodleBob

Layover in Cairo?

CC


18 posted on 03/19/2019 12:27:27 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
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To: nwrep

Consider it was a landmark in the Holy Family’s travels to Egypt


19 posted on 03/19/2019 4:14:35 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: DoodleBob

It is a beautiful painting. But they were fleeing Herod, not the “Roman authorities.”


20 posted on 03/19/2019 4:14:45 AM PDT by I-ambush (One foot in the grave,one foot on the pedal—I was born to rebel.)
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