During the Advent and Christmas seasons, The B.C. Catholic is featuring the art of members of the Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild. This week, we’re sharing pieces by two artists that focus on the Holy Family.
The first is an icon by Steve Knight. According to Knight, there is no icon of the Holy Family in traditional Byzantine sacred art, but he has followed the styles of Byzantine iconography to create this one.
Our Lady is portrayed in blue robes, with three stars on the outer robe, one on her forehead, and one on each shoulder. The stars signify her perpetual virginity - before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. The pose she is in is known as the “Hodegetria,” which means “the one who shows the way,” said Knight. Her right arm and hand direct our attention to the Christ child.
Jesus is dressed in rich robes, including gold cloth, and is placed at the centre of the composition to signify that he is the centre of the Christian family. His right hand is raised in blessing, and the inscription in his halo, “O WN,” proclaims his divinity. His mature face and the scroll he holds tells us that he has the full wisdom of God, even as a child.
The role of St. Joseph is that of a protector. Joseph stands back, not touching Our Blessed Mother, but ever vigilant. The inscriptions tell us who the important figures in the image are: Holy Family, the name of the icon; “MP OV,” Mother of God; “IC XC,” Jesus Christ; and St. Joseph.
Next up is calligrapher Jeannine Paquette-Lau, with this beautiful passage from St. Luke’s Gospel recounting the birth of Christ.
She said she used chancery script, also called papal hand, for this holy message that is one of the cornerstones of Catholic faith. The passage is “cradled with columns of gold, rich blues, and warm reds,” colours that, along with the ornamental pattern of acanthus leaves, are borrowed from the Renaissance period.
The shades of light blue signify the heavens, Mary, cold winter, and divinity, she said. Gold buds in the background point to the message of birth, salvation, and hope. “When I composed this image I wanted it to be very simple, but poignant,” she said.
“I wanted people to feel the comfort, peace, and love our faith teaches us, a very hopeful beginning.”
Related: