Today's Gospel in Art - Jesus walks on the water
Gospel of 9th August 2020 - Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. 'It is a ghost' they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, 'Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.' It was Peter who answered. 'Lord,' he said 'if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.' 'Come' said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. 'Lord! Save me!' he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 'Man of little faith,' he said 'why did you doubt?' And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'
Reflection on the Painting
Thoré-Burger's Salon review of 1863 said about this painting:
"In the midst of immensity, the small figure of Christ in white drapery, grazing the waves like a seagull, supports the good saint Peter, who struggles to stay afloat. It is simple, grand and masterful. Here is a biblical painting."
True, this is a very biblical painting indeed. Christian art isn't necessarily biblical. But when we do come across these very strong biblical paintings, it always does have a special impact on us as believers. We could say that all art contains a message. Not just Christian art. For example, even with abstract paintings, the artist wants to trigger a response from the viewer. It could be awe at the beauty of the work, or amazement or revulsion or just simple puzzlement. But artists want people to 'feel' something. Artists communicate. Biblical paintings, such as today's work, go beyond the simple 'generating of feelings' towards the work. This work wants to communicate a message; it wants to make a very clear point, relating directly to Scripture. Our painter, Gustave Brion, placed the figures of Jesus and Peter in the vast expanse of horizons of the stormy sea. The sky has seen stormy weather but now horizontal bands of sunlight are pouring in. Christ has truly calmed the waters indeed. The boat carrying the Apostles can be seen in the distance. The mast is in the shape of a cross.
We commented on this Gospel passage five days ago (see www.christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/502 ) and our painting makes an interesting comparison with the one we discussed before. Therein lies the beauty of art and what we look at together every day in these reflections, how unique each artist is in rendering his or her unique version of the true uniqueness of the Christian Gospel message.
LINKS
Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/508
Christian Art - www.christian.art