Fire and Blood

The angel's fire from icy clouds ~ To blood-red sweat Groaning from barren rock ~ And the prayer Is not for deliverance ~ But for accompaniment All the way to the cross. ~

The Forces of the Universe

. Nothing between the trees and the far star . So open to the forces of the universe . And I share Their vulnerability. . Van Gogh, 'The Starry Night'

Inspiring Paintings: The Calling…

~ Pointing from the darkness ~ Certain and assured ~ The call Came ~ To one intent On other things ~ Who looks up Through unblocked windows ~ And sees beyond A claustrophobic world ~ To one Of hope. ~ Inspired by The Calling of St. Matthew, by Caravaggio ~

Inspiring Paintings: “Between the Waves”

~ Between The waves ~  Comes A moment ~ So Still ~ The world gasping At beauty  ~ That could never finally Fill. ~ 'Between the Waves' - Aivazovsky

Inspiring Paintings: Leaving and Finding a Father

~ One father curses another blesses ~ While onlookers stare and the bishop turns away ~ And finally What is this all about? ~ Even heaven And earth. ~ In this dramatic painting by Giotto,  Francis has taken off all his clothes and is appealing to God.  His earthly father (on the left), who demanded …

Inspiring Paintings: Winter Landscape

The painter Caspar David Friedrich was born 5th September 1774 ~ How like a tree The spires branch to heaven ~ And hope once misty Indistinct ~ Descends To the crippled soul ~ In meaning clear And wonderful. ~ 'Winter Landscape' by Caspar David Friedrich

Battling with the Dragons Within

In this beautiful painting by Altdorfer, it is easy to miss St. George and the dragon! We are first struck by the dense, dark forest - perhaps an image of the unconscious? Altdorfer shows us a traditional subject in a very untraditional way. There is no princess being rescued. There is a very hidden, private …

Inspiring Paintings: In the Snow

There is something very wonderful about this painting, but it's hard to put your finger on it. In fact there are lots of very wonderful things! Firstly, the beautiful bird, soaring in the space between the foregrounds trees and the distant mountains. What depth it creates for us! What a sense of freedom! Under the …

Spiritual Reflection – To Know the Power of Love

What would it feel like to know you were fully and totally loved? Some of us think of romantic love in this way. We think of a special person we can love fully, and who will fully love us. This painting is about love, though you might not think so at first. "Baptism of Christ', …

Inspiring Paintings: “The Soul In Ecstasy” (Bellini)

. The soul In ecstasy .  At a living World  . Speaking Joy . Returning Prayers .  To God Identified .  Through nature And living word. . 'St. Francis in Ecstasy', Bellini