Icon Unveiled for World Meeting of Families

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Perhaps this has already been discussed, but here is a link to a picture of the icon for the World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia in September 2015.

philly.com/philly/news/20140908_Chaput_unveils_prayer_and_image_for_World_Meeting_of_Families.html

I am highly disappointed and confused. Personally, I think the image entirely fails to evoke the joys of the Catholic family. I don’t understand what the artist is trying to convey through this image, or why it was selected as the official icon. This rendering of the Holy Family, along with SS. Anna and Joachim, is a far cry from the beauty and sublimity of more traditional Catholic art. Most importantly, it portrays Catholic family life in the negative way that society already perceives it: drab, depressed, and bland, when in reality it is vibrant and joyful. Now this image will be circulated throughout the entire world.

What say the rest of you?
 
They do look like an unhappy bunch, except for the young image of Our Lord, who seems to be trying to tell us something. It looks like someone just told the rest of them about family life in 2014, but more likely they are considering the hardships that can come with being a disciple of Christ. As far as the art itself goes, I’m no connoisseur, but it could have been a lot worse. It almost reminds me of the art from those old children’s books by Rev. Lawrence Lovasik.
 
The Holy Family as if they were northern Europeans:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
The picture is a beautiful portrayal of the Holy Family (and grandparents) and shows just what an enormous responsibility it is to raise Christian children in our fallen world.* Relationships*,
those we love, must be Christ-centered.
 
  1. it looks a little better in person (I was in the Cathedral Basilica) when they were hanging the painting. With the border and “MMXV” (2015) at the bottom, it looks pretty good. Also, where the icon is placed in the Cathedral Basilica; Mary, SS Joseph, Ann & Joachim not just looking the Child, Jesus; they also appear to be looking at the cathedra and the people in the pews.
  2. the artist was hired to create a painting for the World Meeting of Families. The archdiocese didn’t select the painting, they commissioned a local painter to paint one.
  3. Throughout history, when the Church has commissioned paintings, we have either received masterpieces, questionable art that only became a masterpiece over time, or some lousy and/or questionable art for all time. As the artist talks more about his inspiration, we will come to appreciate the painting more or less over time.
But the important thing is to remember what this painting represents: The Holy Family and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s opportunity & responsibility to host the World Meeting of Families.

Let’s all pray the official prayer for the 2015 World Meeting of Families:

***God and Father of us all,
in Jesus, your Son and our Savior,
you have made us
your sons and daughters
in the family of the Church.

May your grace and love
help our families
in every part of the world
be united to one another
in fidelity to the Gospel.

May the example of the Holy Family,
with the aid of your Holy Spirit,
guide all families, especially those most troubled,
to be homes of communion and prayer
and to always seek your truth and live in your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!***
 
It’s an interesting interpretation.

I find it interesting that the eyes of everybody seem to be focused on the child Jesus, so that you cannot see them, except for Mary’s eyes and Jesus’ eyes.

The colors used are very vibrant. I can only imagine that they must be even brighter, in person.
 
I just like the fact the Joseph looks younger and it doesn’t look like Mary married her father.
 
Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my initial critique of the painting. It does have a certain charm to it. I think what threw me off were the almost forlorn expressions. The Holy Family should be joyful! This isn’t Mary at the foot of the Cross after all, but her raising Jesus with Joseph at the home in Nazareth. This could have been an image that displayed to the world the joy of family life. I doubt most will detect that in this rendering.
 
While I agree with some of the criticism. I think that the artist was trying to convey that our families should mirror the Holy Family and while there are obvious hints to the Holy Family there are also hints to just any family. Including grandparents and “Jesus” in a plain white “t” are kind of hints to other points the artist may have been making.

Obviously “Hanes” is a sponsor of the Philadelphia gathering.😉
 
christus_vincit said:
Perhaps this has already been discussed, but here is a link to a picture of the icon for the World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia in September 2015.

philly.com/philly/news/20140908_Chaput_unveils_prayer_and_image_for_World_Meeting_of_Families.html

I am highly disappointed and confused. Personally, I think the image entirely fails to evoke the joys of the Catholic family. I don’t understand what the artist is trying to convey through this image, or why it was selected as the official icon. This rendering of the Holy Family, along with SS. Anna and Joachim, is a far cry from the beauty and sublimity of more traditional Catholic art. Most importantly, it portrays Catholic family life in the negative way that society already perceives it: drab, depressed, and bland, when in reality it is vibrant and joyful. Now this image will be circulated throughout the entire world.

What say the rest of you?
Click to expand...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ESPECIALLY with art. And I completely disagree with you on this point. If it were some modern piece of work with Jesus catching a footbally while smiling and high fiving Joseph on the sidelines I think you might have liked it more.😉 But me, I am a traditional soul. And especially with art. And that is one thing you notice with the great renaissance art pieces, it is somber. As it should be. To me they look loving, calm, and caring. Not only that but in all good Holy family art there needs to be some sort of foreshadowing. Look at the great works, Mary is going to suffer, so is Jesus. The message that Jesus is saying with his hands in this picture will ultimately be his death, for you, for your sins. No need to have an icon that is out of touch with the serious beating the family is taking in the world today. It is indeed an appropriate icon. In fact, it makes me think better of the coming conference.
 
They appear to be very very sad, at a funeral perhaps? I think the picture is very depressing. I don’t think the art is bad, but the facial expressions are pretty horrible. I guess this meeting will be very depressing and not at all uplifting, if you judge it by the icon.
 
gh4 said:
They appear to be very very sad, at a funeral perhaps? I think the picture is very depressing. I don’t think the art is bad, but the facial expressions are pretty horrible. I guess this meeting will be very depressing and not at all uplifting, if you judge it by the icon.
Click to expand...
The meeting with be very uplifting and not depressing…

I feel like the Holy Family is looking on to Jesus with lots of love and sadness, foreshadowing the passion He will endure. All loving parents wish they could shield their children from the horrors and evil of this world. But we cannot.

Also, if you knew you your child was a Son of God, he we was looking as innocent and yet wise as he does in this picture, I’m sure you may cry out of joy and love.
 
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