From the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image
This Annunciation by Dominicus Custos is from a series of illustrations of the Creed. If you look in the background, you see the fulfillment of Gabriel's words with a small Nativity scene visible as if through a window. "Conceived by the Holy Spirit" and "born of the Virgin Mary": two points from the Creed in one image!
From the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
From the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Monday, September 17, 2018
Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image
From a "Follower of Pieter Coecke van Aelst" comes this unpretentous Annunciation, currently on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image
From the Philadelphia Museum of Art comes this etching and engraving ("printed from 2 plates") by
Joseph Parrocel. Rather than the more usual title of Annunciation, it bears the title "Conception de nostre Seigneur Iesvs Christ" and thus conforms more closely to the liturgical sense of the March 25 Solemnity ("The Annunciation of the Lord").
Joseph Parrocel. Rather than the more usual title of Annunciation, it bears the title "Conception de nostre Seigneur Iesvs Christ" and thus conforms more closely to the liturgical sense of the March 25 Solemnity ("The Annunciation of the Lord").
Monday, September 3, 2018
Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image
The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurs at the end of the week, so in honor of Our Lady's birthday, the Annunciation this week comes from one of the world's great masterpieces, the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck.
The intricate work consists not only of the twelve panels visible when it is fully opened; even when its panels are closed it makes a substantial theological and artistic statement. The Annunciation is depicted on this "closed" set of eight panels, and consists of the entire midsection (horizontal). Gabriel and Mary are seen on opposite ends of a single (and otherwise empty) room. There is barely enough room between Mary's head and the ceiling for the Holy Spirit!
Open those "doors" and you are transported to Paradise, where the Lamb conceived in Mary is the focus of adoration:
The intricate work consists not only of the twelve panels visible when it is fully opened; even when its panels are closed it makes a substantial theological and artistic statement. The Annunciation is depicted on this "closed" set of eight panels, and consists of the entire midsection (horizontal). Gabriel and Mary are seen on opposite ends of a single (and otherwise empty) room. There is barely enough room between Mary's head and the ceiling for the Holy Spirit!
Open those "doors" and you are transported to Paradise, where the Lamb conceived in Mary is the focus of adoration:
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About the Angelus Project
We rightly admire Muslim neighbors and co-workers who put everything on hold five times a day in answer to the "call to prayer." But Christians have a call to prayer, too! It is the Angelus. Morning, noon and evening we are invited to pause and reaffirm our faith in the Incarnation: The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14), because "God so loved the world that he sent his only Son" (Jn. 3:16).
The Angelus Project is a personal project of Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP, a Daughter of St Paul. Find out more about the media ministry of the Daughters of St Paul at DaughtersofStPaul.com.
The Angelus Project is a personal project of Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP, a Daughter of St Paul. Find out more about the media ministry of the Daughters of St Paul at