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An Irish-Inspired Painting that Will Lift Your Spirits

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Yesterday, Chicago artist and gallerist Dan Addington (who also happens to be my brother-in-law), posted an image on Facebook of one of his early paintings inspired by his many visits to Ireland. He also posted the following reflection about it, which I wanted to share with you (   Christian painting ): My first trip to Ireland way back in ’96 was very influential and powerful. Just before I went I had discovered Irish blood in some newly discovered adoption papers. Once there, I was moved by the land, the culture, and the great people I met during my stay. When I got back to Chicago, I launched into a series of paintings attempting to reinvest symbols of that island with the sense of mystery I  had felt while there. I showed those paintings the following year at the Contemporary Art Workshop in Lincoln Park (RIP), one of my first solo shows in Chicago. This painting was the pioneer piece in the series. It was exhibited the next year in the exhibition “Botanica” which originated at the
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The New Da Vinci: “The Savior of the World”

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There is a newly discovered and authenticated painting by Leonardo da Vinci, a painting of Jesus Christ entitled “Savior of the World.” It sold at auction Wednesday for $450,312,500–the highest priced painting ever sold at auction–to an unidentified buyer .  (The previous record was $179,364,992 for a Picasso.)  In 1958 the painting was sold for the equivalent of $125. It was known that Leonardo painted a picture of Jesus for the King of France between 1506 and 1513, but it had been presumed to be lost.  A number of copies of the painting, however, were made by other artists.  This painting was assumed to have been one of the copies. Heavily over-painted, to cover damage to the image over the centuries, the painting was sent to an expert for restoration.  When the added layers of paint were removed, it was evident that an early version of the painting showed Christ’s thumb in a different position, which the artist then changed.  The restorer realized that a copy would not have original
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The Lutheran artist, Carl Bloch

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In looking for an illustration to go with yesterday’s post Transfigured, I came across a painting on the subject that I ended up using.  The artist was Carl Bloch, whom I subsequently learned was a 19th century Danish artist and a Lutheran.  A painter of landscapes and portraits, he is best known for his paintings of scenes from the Bible, most notably a 23-painting series on the life of Christ -    Christian painting And yet, tho ugh reportedly a devout Lutheran, Bloch’s paintings have been appropriated by the Mormons, to the point that his works have become part of the visual iconography of the Latter Day Saints, reproduced for generations in churches, publications, curriculum, and homes. Bloch (1834-1890) was quite acclaimed in his day.  His countryman Hans Christian Andersen wr ote of his work, “What God has arched on solid rock will not be swept away!” And in a letter to the artist, Andersen said, “Through your art you add a new step to your Jacob-ladder into immortality.” His wor
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