The Holy Family

“The Holy Family” is an illuminated high relief woodcarving in tropical cedar and mahogany measuring 42 by 44 inches.

(Scroll down for Spanish text)

It testifies to the revelations, dreams, miracles, and prophecy of the divine events leading up to and beyond the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. It is subtitled “The Faith of St. Joseph”, as it is in Faith that we hope and have our being in the triune God of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"Holy Family" is a high relief wood sculpture by AVonnHartung for private collection
The Holy Family

 

Like ancient Christian sacred art, whether found in the catacombs of Rome or icons from the 5th century, sacred Christian images are still made today as testimony to the Incarnation of God in our Lord Jesus Christ and the holiness of the saints in the history of Salvation.
“The Holy Family”, a wooden sculpture, represents Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in the temple environment of Luke chapter 2.

Central detail, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, of Holy Family wood sculpture by A.Vonn Hartung.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph

Its composition is inspired by architectural elements, and its images and symbols are artistically constructed in Catholic churches, taken from the Sacred Liturgy, showing various miracles, revelations, and Prophecies from the Bible.

Mary’s awareness of who Jesus is, Jesus’ unity with his Father, and Joseph’s deep faith expressed through his closed eyes (John chapter 20 verse 29: “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed”), and with the lion and the lamb taken from the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 11.

A panel from the wood carving "The Holy Family", Mary's direct encounter with the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation
The Annunciation

Represented here is Mary’s direct encounter with the angel Gabriel at The Annunciation (Luke, chapter 1).

 

Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding at Cana, one of the carved panels in the wood sculpture "The Holy Family" by A.Vonn Hartung
Wedding at Cana

  Her understanding of Jesus’ divine power will be revealed in the first miracle at the wedding at Cana (John chapter 2).

 

Holy Family detail_Joseph's prophetic dream to safety in Egypt

The Gospel says little of St.Joseph. “It does not record even one word spoken by Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth. And yet, even without words, he shows the depth of his faith, his greatness.” (Pope Saint John Paul II)

Joseph’s faith instead comes through dreams, first in the angelic council at the time of his marriage to Mary (Matthew chapter 1) and again in Bethlehem when the angel of the Lord warns him to flee to Egypt away from the murderous jealousy of King Herod (Matthew, chapter 2).

A carved panel in the wood sculpture "The Holy Family" Depicted is a scene in the family's carpenter shop at Nazareth, with Jesus as an adult with Joseph and Mary, the eve before leaving to begin his ministry (extra-biblical)

Depicted here is a scene (extra-biblical) that shows Jesus, as an adult and before beginning his ministry, in his family’s home and in their carpentry shop with the tools of his trade.

Sacred Christian Art is not achieved by the artist alone, but with the Holy Spirit and the believer who looks in contemplative prayer, beyond matter to transcendence.Some of this I know from my own interaction with works of Sacred Art and my personal prayerful struggle to bring the Word to life, to make visible what would otherwise remain as thought.

View the video “The Holy Family”

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“La Sagrada Familia” es una talla de madera en alto relieve iluminada en cedro tropical y caoba que mide 42 por 44 pulgadas.

Da testimonio de las revelaciones, sueños, milagros y profecías de los eventos divinos que condujeron a la encarnación de nuestro Señor y Salvador Cristo Jesús y más allá de ella. Se subtitula “La fe de San José”, porque es en la fe que esperamos y tenemos nuestro ser en el Dios trino del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo.

 

"Holy Family" is a high relief wood sculpture by AVonnHartung for private collection
The Holy Family / La Sagrada Familia

 

Al igual que el antiguo arte sacro cristiano, ya sea el encontrado en las catacumbas de Roma o en iconos del siglo V, las imágenes sagradas cristianas aún se elaboran hoy como testimonio de la Encarnación de Dios en nuestro Señor Jesucristo y de la santidad de los santos en la historia de la Salvación.
«La Sagrada Familia», una escultura de madera, representa a Jesús, María y José en el entorno del templo del capítulo 2 de Lucas.

 

Holy Family detail
Jesús, María, y José

Su composición se inspira en elementos arquitectónicos, imágenes y símbolos construidos artísticamente en las iglesias católicas, tomados de la Sagrada Liturgia, que muestran diversos milagros, revelaciones y profecías de la Biblia.

La conciencia de María de quién es Jesús, la unidad de Jesús con su Padre y la profunda fe de José, expresada a través de sus ojos cerrados (Juan capítulo 20, versículo 29: «Bienaventurados los que no vieron y creyeron»), y con el león y el cordero tomados de la profecía de Isaías, capítulo 11.

 

A panel from the wood carving "The Holy Family", Mary's direct encounter with the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation
La Anunciación

Aquí se representa el encuentro directo de María con el ángel Gabriel en la Anunciación (Lucas, capítulo 1).

 

Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding at Cana, one of the carved panels in the wood sculpture "The Holy Family" by A.Vonn Hartung
Las bodas de Caná

Su comprensión del poder divino de Jesús se revelará en el primer milagro en las bodas de Caná (Juan capítulo 2).

 

Holy Family detail_Joseph's prophetic dream to safety in Egypt

El Evangelio dice poco de San José. No se registra ni una sola palabra de José, el carpintero de Nazaret. Y, sin embargo, incluso sin palabras, muestra la profundidad de su fe, su grandeza. (Papa San Juan Pablo II)

La fe de José, en cambio, se manifiesta a través de sueños, primero en el concilio angélico en el momento de su matrimonio con María (Mateo, capítulo 1) y de nuevo en Belén, cuando el ángel del Señor le advierte que huya a Egipto para huir de los celos asesinos del rey Herodes (Mateo, capítulo 2).

 

A carved panel in the wood sculpture "The Holy Family" Depicted is a scene in the family's carpenter shop at Nazareth, with Jesus as an adult with Joseph and Mary, the eve before leaving to begin his ministry (extra-biblical)

Se representa aquí una escena (extrabíblica) que muestra a Jesús, ya adulto y antes de comenzar su ministerio, en la casa de su familia y en su taller de carpintería con las herramientas de su oficio.

El Arte Sacro Cristiano no lo logra solo el artista, sino con el Espíritu Santo y el creyente que mira en oración contemplativa, más allá de la materia hacia la trascendencia. Algo de esto lo sé por mi propia interacción con obras de Arte Sacro y mi lucha personal de oración para dar vida a la Palabra, para hacer visible lo que de otra manera permanecería como pensamiento.

 

 

 

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