New Mexico and Texas - State of the Art. One of the gifts of living in New Mexico and Far West Texas is the understanding and appreciation of Art. From Taos and Santa Fe, down to Marfa we are truly the "State(s) of the Art."
In the future, we will host various cultural offerings at your Bosque Center. We are planning a series of lectures, book readings, educational courses, art exhibits and will highlight locally grown food (and chefs). We want you to share in the life of your Center and experience the gifts and talents of our Diocese.
To emphasize the cultural aspect, we would like to post the images found in a fascinating exhibit currently touring the United States - Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus. While this exhibit is currently found only in Large Museums, the images of our Lord are moving. Various theological journals have commented on the exhibit and the intricacies and details of the paintings. We wanted to share these beautiful images of our Lord - I can only imagine.
Christ painted by Rembrandt in about 1650. It’s a small oil study, probably painted from life—although it is only a guess that it’s based on one of Rembrandt’s Jewish neighbors. At the time, the image is so different from standard portraits of Christ. It seems to have been inventoried as a “Portrait of Jesus” when Rembrandt faced bankruptcy in 1656.
One of Rembrandt’s “portraits” of Christ, probably in a version copied by one of his pupils. Two of the series lived in Rembrandt’s bedroom.
SALVATOR MUNDI IN A LANDSCAPE, by the Master of the Mansi Magdalene.
The image was painted in Antwerp somewhere between 1510 and 1530, by an artist whose name has been lost. It channels a tradition for representing Christ that was already over 1,000 years old.
Saint Veronica's Veil
One of many imaged of the holy relic to have directly captured the true features of Christ. This version was painted in Italy about 1500. It represents a standard image of Christ that survived, in thousands of variations, from the early Middle Ages right until today. Rembrandt was one of the only Old Masters who dared break with that tradition.
Warner Sallman painted this image in 1940, basing it on a French painting from 1892. It went on to be one of the most popular images of Christ—ever, reproduced maybe a billion times. It was standard issue to GI’s during World War II and is still a popular confirmation gift.
Christ and the Virgin, by Robert Campin.
This was painted in Flanders in about 1430, when a new realism was starting to take off. The most traditional image of Christ is given a new, tangible presence: note how the gem on Christ’s robe seems to reflect the room in front of him—the room we viewers are in, by his side.
Head of Christ by Rembrandt
Rembrandt’s series seems to portray Jesus as alive and in our midst. By rejecting the traditional depiction of Christ, which links him firmly to a distant Roman past, Rembrandt makes Jesus present at all times, including among us.
A head of Christ, thought to be by Rembrandt and his pupils
This painting is caught as he casts down his eyes—as Jesus might have done in a moment of pain, or doubt.
A head of Christ, thought to be by Rembrandt and his pupils
Jesus seems almost to be speaking—one of the classic achievements of good portraiture in Rembrandt’s own day.
A head of Christ, probably by Rembrandt himself
Christ turns to look almost straight into our eyes—but Rembrandt first painted him looking up, then changed the direction of his gaze.
The Face of Christ in All his Beauty
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