Description
"Hail Mary" Luc-Olivier Merson This tranquil scene was painted by Luc-Olivier Merson, one of the most Catholic-minded painters of his generation. It's a simple scene but also rich & meditative. A peasant farmer going about his work lifts his cap as a "Hail, Mary" as he passes the Blessed Mother & Jesus. His child blows a kiss. The idyllic thatch-roofed cottages, the haystack, the nearby woods, all present a scene or orderliness & peace. We enjoy looking at this picture. But there are many layers to this picture, & it will reward you if you meditate on it. For example, notice the two roughhewn planks behind Jesus; a cross being built. There are ambiguities here, too, just as in our own spiritual lives. Jesus & Mary are with us, but our relationship with them varies, & sometimes we walk past them. They are constant. We are not. & yet at the same time, it is a good thing to offer Hail Mary's to the Queen of Heaven & her Babe as we go about our necessarily busy lives. Merson's paintings are simple & yet lend themselves to contemplation. This one is welcoming & warm, but also mysterious. By age twenty, Luc-Olivier Merson (1846-1920) was exhibiting in the Paris Salons, attracting much attention & winning many prizes over the years. He also was known for his illustrations & even postage stamp & currency designs, as well as church & government office decorations. We hope to offer some of his other beautiful Catholic art, especially his Annunciation which takes place in the same village. Ca. 1885. Oil on canvas. (source: high.org) Our copy of this paining is very close up; you can see the marks of the canvas. IMPORTANT THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, & lets them look good in a frame without a matt. - Acid-free paper - Archival pigments, rated to last for generations. - Cardboard backer - Above story of the art - Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag. Thanks for your interest! Thanks! Sue & John You might also enjoy original Catholic Art & Jewerly by me, Sue Kouma Johnson, here on Etsy at www.Etsy.com/shop/TreeOfHeaven Also, check out our Catholic Quote shop, where we are pairing authentic quotes from Saints with Art: www.Etsy.com/shop/CatholicQuote "In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text & image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - CatholicArtAndJewelry. Hail Mary By Luc-Olivier Merson 1885 - 4 Sizes Vintage Catholic Art Print Archival Quality
