FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR |
Good Morning, Dan. :-)
Good morning! Favorites are #3 by Mengs, #8 by Georges de La Touue; #23 by van Honthorst; the splendid Ghirlandaio at #43 and finally the relief at #48.
For me the shepherds represent the sweetest part of the Nativity It shows the love of God for everyone and it reminds me of what a 19th c. Biblical scholar wrote: “”These men who watched the sheep meant for the slaughter received a divine message about the ultimate Lamb who would take away the sins of the world through His death and resurrection.”
..and speaking of wonder…
Here we go! 50% have the ox/donk symbolism; even in the great Wallbaum (silver?) at #48 and FRONT & CENTER in Ghirlandaio at #43!
45% have the lamb/trussed lamb symbolism,
and 31% have the ‘flying scroll’.
#’s 4, 5, and 36 have all 3 symbols! (Most of them have two of the symbols)
Domenichino at #46 is magnificent for its ‘movement’. I’ve come to believe these works are meant to be studied, contemplated, and it feels like I could for hours!
The one that ‘got me’ in this batch is Strozzi at #7. Go look at it for a bit. The unsettling element is very prominent, isn’t it? Gloomily foreshadowing a foul death.
Happy Day to you Dan, and what wonderful responses, each of you!
You’ve chosen so many fine ones; again, I love the multiple submissions from the same artists.
#11 & #12 Rubens; similar yet the scene changes.
#22, #23 & #24 Van Honthorst- they’re like snapshots, taken a moment apart. New people step in, others turn, some are still. Surely, that’s how it was. #24 is almost a different style, yet the same painter- What flexible skills.
#46 Domenichino is remarkable; even several children and angels. Note many paintings show a lamb trussed...
Thank you Dan; these indeed beg further study.