Paintings

Fishers of Men

I dedicate this Painting and Poem to all First Responders.
All people who are suffering
or Acting to live in Balance with our Climate,
who strive for the good of others
and Future Generations…

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Dedico esta pintura y poema a todos los socorristas.
A todas las personas que sufren o que actúan para vivir en equilibrio con nuestro clima,
que luchan por el bien de los demás
y de las generaciones futuras…

 

Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men go out further than any boat can know.
They sail over the shoals and rocks, where no others dare to go!

They fish with nets of Mercy in seas and oceans drag,
for those who’ve lost their footing and off the decks were dragged.

They troll in lakes of poison, in rivers clogged with slime
to pull aboard the wretched that Sin has rendered blind.
They scoop up the fragile and their kind, that hold fast to the line of flotsam and jetsam
that hope has left behind!

They surf the tides of turmoil and teach no fear of death.
They rise in swells of innocence until clear knowing builds and crests.

Fishers of men, fish for Souls, Souls that lose their way,
those who’ve sunk below the pale,
who in the deep of muck and dark, in the bottom lay.

Fishers of Men are Saviors!
Compassion, Love, and Mercy are how they reach so deep.
Following the Savior they’ve learned “Saving Grace” comes through Faith,
Humility and Penance in Redemption is forgiveness.
It is the Master’s Way, the Truth and the Life.

So as they Fish they teach us the Way to Pray, which is to say,
fish to save, for ALL on Earth are fragile and ALL on Earth need us to Pray,
to Serve, so in our own turn—We may save
and with our Savior stay …

A.Vonn Hartung ©2022

 

 

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The Fate of Jonah

Fate of Jonah is a painting by A.VonnHartung, from his series "Cries of Creation" inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment "Laudato Si".

The Fate of Jonah

The Fate of Jonah is a painting and sonnet from my new series “Cries of Creation“, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclicalLaudato Si

El destino de Jonás (“Fate of Jonah) es una pintura y un soneto de mi nueva serie “Gritos de la Creación“, inspirada en la encíclicaLaudato Si” del Papa Francisco de 2015.

 

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Jonah was a good man from the start

for he saw beauty in all things that lived,

and knew he was of it a part.

He was with God, he lived, he loved and prayed.

 

Then one day God tested him! This is what He said—

Go to Nineveh, for there they’ve strayed in sin.

And tell them how they’ve lost their way.

And teach them how to live, to love and pray.

 

Now Jonah’s knees began to shake,

like a mighty mountain began to quake.

 

And Jonah that night ran away

on a ship whose course was far apart

from where he knew he should depart

to do what he knew was right.

 

But doubt and fear had closed his heart.

And greed and self-interest had closed his ears.

 

The fate of Jonah we must heed

for his redemption is our great need.

To do God’s will and change our ways,

for now it’s us who’ve gone astray.

 

Only fools run from God and try to slink away!

 

Those of us who were good to start,

who have the sight, who have the heart,

help us Lord not to turn away, but let us turn

and face our fate and know our place.

And live and love and pray!

 

Ships of Fools

"Ships of Fools" is a painting and sonnet by A.VonnHartung, from his series "Cries of Creation", inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on the environmental crisis "Laudato Si"

Ships of Fools

Ships of Fools is a painting and sonnet from my new series “Cries of Creation“, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclicalLaudato Si

Ships of Fools (Barcos de Tontos) es una pintura y un soneto de mi nueva serie “Gritos de la Creación“, inspirados en la encíclicaLaudato Si” del Papa Francisco de 2015.

 

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We do not know where fools’ ships go,

for all they tell are lies.

Their Captains have no course nor maps.

They only sail where blows the wind,

and only at their backs.

 

The captains’ futures are all invested.

In the market they do rely.

No thoughts of destination nor direction,

for on the Big Board they have their eye.

 

Ni port nor starboard do they veer,

nor course corrections do they dare

while in the current of their winnings.

 

But, if Mammon-wish tickles their fancy,

quickly will their trading shift.

Or if by chance they be becalmed,

then happily will they daze and drift.

 

Their crews are drifters all,

 from the sea the captains plucked.

Their losses and misfortunes

are the foolish captains’ luck.

 

The passengers all are gamblers.

These ships are what they sought.

Cheap one-way tickets

are what they scrambled for and bought.

 

All good one-time married men,

left their wives behind—

knowing, like some good husbands,

they thought it would be kind.

 

For on these one-way foolish ships,

ships with no return,

there is no need to bother, ponder, or discern.

Foolish ships are bound to flip,

for black holes they are bound!

It is their way

when gone astray

that fools do double down!

 

Let us learn again to sail

the oceans with her winds.

And tack, when need be,

so when the wind swings round

we yield, to her lead.

 

To keep on course, we cannot force

Nature to do our will.

Our destiny is to bend and mend our ways.

The signs are all around us

all the time, numerous as the waves.

 

It’s only fools who sail on ships

 captained without a course,

ships that sail to nowhere!

Of this I cry BEWARE!

 

 

The Bombing of Ukraine

 

This original painting shows the bombing of Ukraine in February 2022
The Bombing of Ukraine

The Bombing of Ukraine

acrylic on canvas 32 x 38 inches

(Scroll down for Spanish text)

Because we are witnessing the invasion and bombing of Ukraine, I painted this Glimpse of the Sacred juxtaposed to the Profane.

The innocent victims are protected by the sanctity of Saint Sophia Cathedral, with its magnificent spires shown in the foreground in Kyiv. They are juxtaposed to the shelling near Ukraine’s six Nuclear Reactors at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, and the devastation and destruction of War.

The Ukrainian people are suffering Terror!

A bomb killed dozens of people waiting in line for food. Bombs have been destroying buildings and people’s homes, even destroying the zoo.

What we are seeing in the resilience of the Ukrainian people is Democracy in Action! Indeed, ordinary people are putting themselves in front of tanks.  Farmers are clearing roads with their tractors. Indeed, millions of bombed-out families are trying to escape the terrorism of war.

Courageous people around the world are raising their voices against these horrors.

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The Bombing of Ukraine

 

El Bombardeo de Ucrania

acrílico sobre lienzo 32 x 38 pulgadas

 

Debido a que estamos presenciando la invasión y el bombardeo de Ucrania, pinté este Vislumbre de lo Sagrado yuxtapuesto a lo Profano.

Las víctimas inocentes están protegidas por la santidad de la catedral de Santa Sofía con sus magníficas agujas que se muestran en primer plano en Kiev. Están yuxtapuestas al bombardeo cerca de los seis reactores nucleares de Ucrania en la central nuclear de Zaporizhzhia, y la devastación y destrucción de la guerra.

¡El pueblo ucraniano está sufriendo terror!

Una bomba mató a decenas de personas que esperaban en la fila para recibir comida. Las bombas han estado destruyendo edificios y casas, incluso destruyendo el zoológico.

Lo que estamos viendo en la resiliencia del pueblo ucraniano es Democracia en Acción! La gente común se está poniendo frente a los tanques. Los agricultores están limpiando caminos con sus tractores. Millones de familias bombardeadas intentan escapar del terrorismo de guerra.

Gente valiente de todo el mundo está alzando la voz contra estos horrores.

Ukrainian Mother and Child

Ukrainian mother and child

 “Ukrainian Mother and Child” 

acrylic on canvas 30″ by 36″

 

(Scroll down for Spanish text)

 

The Sacred and the Profane

This painting, “Ukrainian Mother and Child,” addresses the Sacred (Love in Peace) contrasted by the Profane (Hate in War). Additionally, it speaks of the Spiritual opposed to the Material.

The towers of the cathedral of Kyiv, Saint Sophia, are visible in the upper middle.  Moreover, the love of the mother and the peace of the sleeping child express spirituality.

 Significantly, on either side of the Ukrainian mother and child are the mysterious hands holding up the Sky.

Furthermore, two constellations were visible at that latitude on the night Ukraine was invaded. Accordingly, to the right of the Ukrainian mother and child is Ursa Major and Polaris (the North Star), and to their left is Draco the Dragon.

They are symbols of the Love that comes to protect mother and child, and all Ukrainians with Prayers from around the world.

The Profane (War) speaks for itself with the violence of killing by bullets, explosions, and destruction of bombs, and the burning flames of War devouring countless Innocent lives…

 

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The European Baptist Federation recently published this image for their Christmas card 2022

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Ukrainian Mother and Child

 

“Madre e hijo ucraniano”

  Pintura acrílica sobre lienzo 30″ por 36″

 

Lo sagrado y lo profano

Esta pintura “Madre e hijo ucraniano” aborda lo Sagrado (Amor en Paz) en contraste con lo Profano (Odio en Guerra).

También habla de lo Espiritual opuesto a lo Material.

Las torres de la catedral de Kiev, Santa Sofía son visibles en la mitad superior. De manera significativa la espiritualidad se expresa en el amor de la madre y la paz del niño dormido. 

Es significativo que a ambos lados de la madre y el niño ucranianos se encuentren unas manos misteriosas que sostienen el cielo.

Dos constelaciones eran visibles en esa latitud la noche en que Ucrania fue invadida. Mirando a la madre y al hijo ucranianos, a la derecha está Osa Mayor y Polaris (la Estrella Polar) y a su izquierda Draco el Dragón.

Son símbolos del Amor que viene a proteger a la madre y al niño, y a todos los ucranianos con Oraciones de todo el mundo…

La Profana (Guerra) habla por sí misma—con la violencia de matar a balazos, explosiones y destrucción de bombas y las llamas ardientes de la Guerra devorando incontables vidas Inocentes…

  

La Federación Bautista Europea publicó recientemente esta imagen para su tarjeta navideña 2022

Algunas Obras en Puerto Rico

Algunas Obras en Puerto Rico

de Arturo Vonn Hartung

 

Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos, Miramar

La Madre Dolorosa – escultura en madera, “itaúba”/Brazil (“pau lope”)

Aprox Tamaño Natural/ Encargado por Padre Julio V García 1991

Ha Resucitado! – escultura en madera “itaúba” Encargado por Padre Jorge Castillejo Lluisiá 1992

 

Parroquia San Francisco Javier, Urb Fairview, Cupey

"En el Nombre del Padre..." San Francisco Javier Baptizing, retablo painting by AVonnHartung, in Parroquia San Francisco Javier (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico)

En el Nombre del Padre (San Francisco Javier Bautizando)

Retablo – pintura sobre madera, caoba

Aprox 6 x 11 pie/ Encargado por Padre Julio V García 2002

 

 

"Vivimos para esa noche" oil portrait of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago by A.Vonn Hartung
Vivimos para esa Noche

Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago

Pintura al óleo sobre tela

Encargado por Padre Julio V García 2000

(Hay muchos “posters” de esta pintura a través de Puerto Rico)

 

Pontifical North American College, Vatican

Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago portrait by AVonnHartung_at Pontifical North American College Vatican
Beato Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Pintura al óleo sobre tela

Encargado por Mons Roberto González Nieves 2001

(Hay muchos “posters” de esta pintura a través de Puerto Rico)

 

Hermanas Misioneras del Buen Pastor, Caguas

El Buen Pastor, pintura/mural  (after A.Soord "The Lost Sheep"), obra en Caguas Puerto Rico por Arturo Vonn Hartung

El Buen Pastor – (La oveja extraviada) Lucas 15:4-7

Pintura sobre tela, 9 x 12 pie

(En el presbiterio de la capilla)

Encargado por Hermanas Misioneras del Buen Pastor 1985

 

Parroquia El Buen Pastor, Guaynabo (Apolo)

  El Buen Pastor, obra en Guaynabo Puerto Rico por Arturo Vonn HartungYo soy El Buen Pastor/I am The Good Shepherd painting (closeup) by A.VonnHartung, in "El Buen Pastor" church (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)

Yo soy el Buen Pastor (Mis ovejas conocen mi vozJuan 10:27)

Pintura sobre madera, 4 x 8 pie

 Encargado por Padre Jaime Vázquez Rojas 2003

 

Parroquia Santa Rosa de Lima, Guaynabo (Barrio Amelia)

Mural (central section) by AVonnHartung at Parroquia Santa Rosa de Lima, BarrioAmelia SJ Puerto Rico

Mural de la Fe (parte central de la pintura sobre pared de cemento,

aprox 29 x 65 pie)/ Encargado por Padre Julio V Garcia 1997

 

ViaCrucis Station I, painting by AVonnHartung

Via Crucis (14 pinturas sobre madera 4 x 8 pie cada una)

Encargado por Mons. Antonio “Tito” José Vázquez 2001

Jesus meets his mother. Via Crucis station 4 painting by AVonnHartung

 

Parroquia Maria Auxiliadora, La Cantera, Hato Rey

La Misericordia de San Juan Bosco (pintura sobre madera, aprox 3 ½ x 8 pie)

5 pinturas más con tema de San Juan Bosco y Santo Domingo Savio

Encargado por Padre NicolásColacho” Navarro SDB 2011

 

Colegio San Juan Bosco, La Cantera, Hato Rey

Siempre Joven/Cristo con nosotros
Encargado por Padre Jorge Santiago Cartagena SDB 2017

 

Parroquia San Juan Bautista, Orocovis (pueblo)

"The Life and Prophecy of St. John the Baptist" mosic mural by AVonnHartung in Orocovis, Puerto Rico

Mosaico Mural “La Vida y la Profecía de San Juan Bautista

(500 pie cuadrada)/ Encargado por Padre Jorge Santiago Cartagena SDB

2008

6 “Vitrales” en Santisima y Sacristía (pintura sobre Lexan)2005

1 Vitral tradicional en la Santísima

"The Life and Prophecy of St. John the Baptist" MosaicMural (closeup 4 saints) by AVonn Hartung in Orocovis Puerto Rico

 

 

Capilla San Juan Bosco, Orocovis (Barrio Gato)

"El Sueño de las Dos Columnas" San Juan Bosco/ "The Dream of the Two Columns" mural by AVonnHartung, in Capilla San Juan Bosco (Orocovis, Puerto Rico)

Mural en el presbiterio “El Sueño de las Columnas

Pintura sobre pared de cemento (18 x 50 pie)

Encargado por Padre Jorge Santiago Cartagena SDB 2004

 

Un "vitral" pintura por Arturo Vonn Hartung, Camino a Emaus, una de sus obras in Orocovis Puerto Rico de Las Estaciones de la Resurreccion.14 “vitrales” Estaciones de la Resurrección Via Lucis

 

2 “Vitrales” con tema del mural

2 “Vitrales” con tema de la Música

Encargado por Padre Jorge Santiago Cartagena SDB 2004

 

Catedral San Juan Bautista, Viejo San Juan

Pintura "Ha Resucitado" de la coleccion "Estaciones de la Resurreccion", obras en Puerto Rico por Arturo Vonn Hartung

Via Lucis14 Estaciones de la Resurrección 2015

(Las pinturas originales en la Catedral

 prestadas a Mons. Roberto González Nieves 2018)

 

Reproducciones en—

Parroquia María Auxiliadora, Cantera (Padre NicolásColacho” Navarro SDB

Parroquia San Ignacio de Loyola (Padre Lawrence Searles SJ)

Parroquia Santa Luisa de Marillac (Padre Tomás G. Gonzalez)

Parroquia Corazón de Jesús (Padre Phillip “Felipe” Nunez)

 

Capilla María Auxiliadora, Carolina (rural)

 

San José protector (estátua tallada en madera)

            Beato Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (reprod de la pintura original)

                        Encargada por Padre Rafael de Jesús González Ayala CRL (2018)

 

Capilla Divino Niño Jesús, Orocovis (Botijas)

Pintura de San Jose con el niño Jesus en su taller, una obra en Orocovis, Puerto Rico por Arturo Vonn Hartung
San José con el Niño Jesús

Pintura del Cristo resucitado, una obra en Orocovis Puerto Rico por Arturo Vonn Hartung

Jesús Resucitado

 

Maria Auxiliadora

 

Colección Privada (San Juan)

San Benito de Nursia

Escultura en cerámica "San Francisco de Asis" obra por Arturo Vonn Hartung en Puerto Rico

San Francisco de Asís

St. Ignatius of Loyola_ceramic sculpture high relief by AVonnHartung for private collection (Puerto Rico)
San Ignacio de Loyola

Carved Retablo with the 3 Saints

 

The Mystical Cat

The Mystical Cat
The Mystical Cat

 An original acrylic painting by A.Vonn Hartung

(Scroll down for Spanish text)

The Cat has always evoked a mystical feeling in me. She holds secrets of the night, as the Moon reflects the light of the sun. Both the moon and the cat have always given me a sense of wonder as they reflect something more powerful than themselves, something we are not able to see.

An encounter with a Cat, her actions, her pause, her peace; there is a depth of mystery that lies behind her eyes, which captivates her prey and sometimes her observer.

There is something in that stillness that makes me aware of what I do not know and, importantly, inspires that fabled “curiosity” that others wiser than me have observed; an inspiration to learn—who we are and what propels us towards our destiny.

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The Mystical Cat
The Mystical Cat / El Gato Místico

Una pintura acrílica original de A.Vonn Hartung

El Gato siempre me ha evocado un sentimiento místico. Ella guarda secretos de la noche, ya que la Luna refleja la luz del sol. Tanto la luna como el gato siempre me han dado una sensación de asombro, ya que reflejan algo más poderoso que ellos mismos, algo que no podemos ver.

Un encuentro con un gato, sus acciones, su pausa, su paz; hay una profundidad de misterio, eso que se esconde detrás de los ojos que cautivan a su presa y, a veces, a su observador.

Hay algo en esa quietud que me hace consciente de lo que no sé y, lo que es más importante, inspira esa legendaria “curiosidad” que otros más sabios que yo han observado; una inspiración para aprender quiénes somos y qué nos impulsa hacia nuestro destino.

¡Ha Resucitado!

¡Ha Resucitado!

An original acrylic painting from the series of 14 Stations of the Resurrection (Via Lucis)

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Mt 28)

In this first station, we are confronted, as are the women who approached the tomb, with the feeling of otherworldliness upon seeing the angel and the empty tomb.

As we approach the first station, we come upon the spectacle of the angel beside the empty tomb who announces that Christ is not there, “He has Risen!” Go tell the apostles He has risen, just as he said. Alleluia, Alleluia Christ has risen! Astonished and euphoric, the women give praise. The bottom half of all the stations shows Christ’s Cross at Golgotha, which for us is the bridge between this life and the life to come, with God in Eternity through Christ’s Resurrection.

When Jesus was resurrected, becoming for us The Christ, in that moment, the world was changed forever!

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¡Ha Resucitado! —Una pintura acrílica original de la serie de 14 Estaciones de la Resurrección (Via Lucis) por A.Vonn Hartung

El ángel dijo a las mujeres—No tengan miedo; sé que ustedes buscan a Jesús, el que fue crucificado.  No está aquí, pues ha resucitado, tal como dijo. Vengan a ver el lugar donde lo pusieron. (Mt 28)

En esta primera estación nos enfrentamos, al igual que las mujeres que se acercaron al sepulcro, con el sentimiento de otra mundanalidad al ver al ángel y al sepulcro vacío.

Al acercarnos a la primera estación, nos encontramos con el espectáculo del ángel junto al sepulcro vacío que anuncia que Cristo no está allí: “¡Ha resucitado!”. Vayan a decirles a los apóstoles que ha resucitado, tal como dijo. ¡Aleluya, aleluya! ¡Cristo ha resucitado! Asombradas y eufóricas, las mujeres dan alabanzas. La mitad inferior de todas las estaciones muestra la cruz de Cristo en el Gólgota, que para nosotros es el puente entre esta vida y la vida venidera, con Dios en la eternidad mediante la Resurrección de Cristo.

Cuando Jesús resucitó, convirtiéndose para nosotros en El Cristo, en ese momento, ¡el mundo cambió para siempre!

It is the Lord!

It is the Lord!

It is the Lord!

An original acrylic painting

from the series of 14 Stations of the Resurrection (Via Lucis) 

(Scroll down for Spanish text)

As is often the case, the fishermen came up short, having spent a whole night without catching a fish for breakfast.

Christ appears as a beacon of Hope.

He tells them to cast their nets on “the right side of the boat.” The boat swings into action, the tilt of the mast and that of the crossbeam, the prow and the stern all point towards the fulfillment of the Lord’s commandment, “cast your net”. 

They follow His command, and their nets overflow with fish. He teaches us that blessings flow if we follow His way and have faith in Him, who is our Shepherd. In the bottom half of the circle, Calvary and the abyss that represents death, and the three-dimensional cross, the bridge from earthly to eternal reality.

When Jesus was resurrected, becoming for us The Christ, in that moment, the world was changed forever!

 

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Ninth Station of the Resurrection "It is the Lord! (Jn 21:7); painting by A.Vonn Hartung
¡Es el Señor! (Jn 21:7)

 

¡Es el Señor!

Una pintura acrílica original

de la serie 14 Estaciones de la Resurrección (Via Lucis) 

 

Como suele ocurrir, los pescadores se quedaron cortos, pues pasaron una noche entera sin pescar nada para desayunar.

Cristo aparece como un faro de esperanza.

Él les dice que echen sus redes “a la derecha de la barca”. La barca entra en acción, la inclinación del mástil y de la viga transversal, la proa y la popa, todo apunta hacia el cumplimiento del mandamiento del Señor, “echad la red”.

Siguen su mandato, y sus redes rebosan de peces. Él nos enseña que las bendiciones fluyen si seguimos Su camino y tenemos fe en Él, quien es nuestro Pastor. En la mitad inferior del círculo, el Calvario y el abismo que representa la muerte, y la cruz tridimensional, puente de la realidad terrena a la eterna.

Cuando Jesús resucitó, convirtiéndose para nosotros en El Cristo, en ese momento, ¡el mundo cambió para siempre!