“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)
St. Joseph, man of deep Faith. He received his revelations through DREAMS. Hence, I carved him with his eyes closed; the revelation that Mary was to be the mother God (Mt 1:20), his dream that they should flee to Egypt to escape the murderous wrath and jealousy of King Herod (Mt 2:13)
Shown here, in celebration of St. Joseph’s Feast Day, is my high relief wood sculpture “Holy Family” (42 x 44-inches)
The setting is the Temple (Luke 2:41-50)
The Holy Family
Joseph, the central figure, his eyes closed, deep in prayer, is the picture of humility through blind faith.
Depicted here is a recollection of Joseph’s prophetic dream (Mt 2:13) when the angel instructed him to flee to safety in Egypt, from the murderous jealousy of King Herod.
Depicted here 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)
Today, San Jose Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is reopening after a massive reconstruction that took nearly twenty years to complete. Built between 1532 and 1735, it is a restoration of the second oldest surviving Spanish church in the Americas. Providentially this coincides with the celebration of The Year of St. Joseph, proclaimed by Pope Francis.
The Mass will be celebrated by Mons. Roberto Gonzalez Nieves.
In celebration of St.Francis Xavier, Patron Saint of Missionaries
This painting shows the humble Jesuit missionary baptizing a youth
St. Francis Xavier brought more than 30,000 souls into the Faith. Known as the “Apostle of the Indies” and “Apostle of Japan”, he is said to have converted more people than anyone else has since Saint Paul, the Apostle.
Padre Julio Victor García commissioned this painting/retablo in 2002 for Iglesia San Francisco Javier (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico). It measures 6 feet in width by 11 feet in height and is my original design. I built it from solid mahogany, painted it in acrylic, and gilded it with gold and copper leaf.
Symbolic elements of the painting
The vertical format symbolizes this world, our Church, and the witness of the life and evangelizing work of San Francisco Javier.
The frame displays the Sign of the Cross with which we as Christians identify ourselves in and through Baptism. It represents the tireless work of St. Francis, from sunrise to sunset. Additionally, it shows the eternal truth, the Alpha and Omega of Christ. It acts as a window through which we enter to find further truths.
St. Francis Xavier is baptizing a youth. Significantly, the youth symbolize the future church. Hence, we see the people coming to the Faith.
The Holy Family is represented by all who do the Will of the Father. Specifically, they are bringing young souls to be saved.
The Children brought forth by their Godparents engage us in reflection and contemplative prayer.
The Holy Trinity: Above the head of St. Francis, we see the sacred image of the Holy Trinity. The great 15th-century Russian iconographer Andre Rublev con. Its inclusion is meant to draw us into the mystery of God and to remind us of God’s love. Additionally, it prophetically reminds us of Jesus’ words as expressed in John 15 26-27 (“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”)
The Background: Surrounding this cascade of divinity with its luminous light and vapors are luxurious examples of Holy Creation. Specifically, the abundance of nature expresses this concept. The breadfruit and mango trees symbolize Love, Beauty, and Resurrection. Additionally, we see the dove drawing closer, and the serpent, which is being driven away.
“They who pray with faith have fervor, and fervor is the fire of prayer. This mysterious fire has the power of consuming all our faults and imperfections, and of giving to our actions, vitality, beauty, and merit.” (Francis Xavier)
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Español
En celebración de San Francisco Javier, Patrón de los Misioneros
San Francisco Javier, misionero jesuita
Esta pintura muestra al humilde misionero jesuita bautizando a un joven.
San Francisco Javier convirtió a más de 30.000 almas a la fe. Conocido como el «Apóstol de las Indias» y el «Apóstol del Japón», se dice que convirtió a más personas que nadie desde San Pablo, el apóstol.
El Padre Julio Víctor García encargó esta pintura/retablo en 2002 para la Iglesia San Francisco Javier (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico). Mide 6 pies de ancho por 11 pies de alto y es mi diseño original. La construí con caoba maciza, la pinté con acrílico y la doré con pan de oro y cobre.
Elementos simbólicos de la pintura
El formato vertical simboliza este mundo, nuestra Iglesia y el testimonio de la vida y la obra evangelizadora de San Francisco Javier.
El marco muestra la Señal de la Cruz, con la que los cristianos nos identificamos en y a través del Bautismo. Representa la labor incansable de San Francisco, desde el amanecer hasta el anochecer. Además, muestra la verdad eterna, el Alfa y la Omega de Cristo. Actúa como una ventana por la que entramos para encontrar verdades más profundas.
San Francisco Javier bautiza a un joven. Significativamente, los jóvenes simbolizan la iglesia futura. Por lo tanto, vemos a las personas acercarse a la fe.
La Sagrada Familia está representada por todos los que hacen la voluntad del Padre. Específicamente, traen almas jóvenes para la salvación.
Los niños traídos por sus padrinos nos invitan a la reflexión y a la oración contemplativa.
La Santísima Trinidad: Sobre la cabeza de San Francisco, vemos la sagrada imagen de la Santísima Trinidad. El gran iconógrafo ruso del siglo XV, André Rublev, la configuró. Su inclusión busca adentrarnos en el misterio de Dios y recordarnos su amor. Además, nos recuerda proféticamente las palabras de Jesús expresadas en Juan 15:26-27: «Cuando venga el Consolador, que yo os enviaré de parte del Padre, el Espíritu de verdad que procede del Padre, él dará testimonio de mí. Y vosotros también daréis testimonio, porque habéis estado conmigo desde el principio».
El contexto: Rodeando esta cascada de divinidad con su luz luminosa y sus vapores, se encuentran suntuosos ejemplos de la Sagrada Creación. En concreto, la abundancia de la naturaleza expresa este concepto. Los árboles del pan y del mango simbolizan el amor, la belleza y la resurrección. Además, vemos a la paloma acercándose y a la serpiente, que es ahuyentada.
Quienes oran con fe tienen fervor, y el fervor es el fuego de la oración. Este fuego misterioso tiene el poder de consumir todas nuestras faltas e imperfecciones, y de dar a nuestras acciones vitalidad, belleza y mérito. (Francisco Javier)
It was 49 years ago that we first received an image of ourselves from the Moon. In the process of sending a man to the moon for the first time, Joseph Allen, one of the astronauts who was involved in the planning process, recalls:
“Among all the arguments that were made for and against traveling to the Moon, nobody mentioned the possibility that the best reason would be simply to observe ourselves.”
Undeniably, that turned out to be the reason. In other words, to see ourselves from outside as a planet. Thus, when we received the photo of our planet, it was a global revelation that changed the way we think. Thereafter, our consciousness has never been the same. Specifically, we saw ourselves as we truly are: alone in the vast darkness of space, small, delicate, resplendent with life and divine beauty. Through Him all things were made.
To clarify, it was not until the beginning of the 70’s that we began to think about ethics and care of the environment. Generally, only mystics and environmentalists had commented on this. However, since then, everything has changed. Notably, the world has responded with numerous vital reflections. Moreover, we now have the scientific tools and the philosophical and ethical thinking to begin to reason about our responsibility regarding the environment.
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Laudato Si’ spells it all out
Correspondingly, I painted this Work (Oil painting on wood panel, 42 x 57″) when I was a member of the Justice and Peace Commission of C.O.R. here in San Juan, Puerto Rico, back in 1992. Indeed, I was inspired in part because of the deteriorating environmental conditions on this most delicate island—specifically, the thoughtless over-development and pollution that was going on, and the destruction of local communities. Unquestionably, Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for our Common Home spelled it all out completely. Undeniably, its message was clear and eloquently stated. Hence, it was a theological clarification of what all the science said. Furthermore, for me, Hurricane Maria provided explicit proof of it!
Two possibilities
To summarize, the painting is rhetorical in concept and presents us with two possibilities. That is, one in harmony with God’s Creation. In other words, a future of justice, peace, and sustainability. The other of plunder, chaos, endless war, and an ultimate collapse of nature and life on our planet, as we know it.
The Earth is depicted as an egg. This is intended to metaphorically symbolize the fragility of the Earth’s ecosystem, as well as its natural abundance and fertility.
The metaphor of the egg is also used to illustrate a broken covenant and the resulting rupture of Earth’s fragile ecology, as well as humanity’s fall from grace. Indeed, this has been caused by a flawed linear economic system based on the misuse of power and wealth, symbolized by the unholy use of GOLD.
Caring for the environment is a moral issue.
There is no doubt about this. We humans have the tools to destroy or save civilization because God created us with that capability. But he also gave us free will.
Caring for the environment is a moral issue. Through Him all things were made. Pope St. John Paul II emphasized the priority of ethics over technology and spirit over matter.
If we destroy the earth, we destroy the divine creation, we destroy ourselves.
Por medio de él todas las cosas fueron creadas (Jn 1:3)
Fue hace 49 años que hemos recibido por primera vez una imagen de nosotros mismos desde la Luna. En el proceso de enviar a un hombre a la luna por primera vez, Joseph Allen, uno de los astronautas que estuvo involucrado en el proceso de planificación, recuerda:
“Entre todos los argumentos que se hicieron a favor y en contra de viajar a la Luna, nadie mencionó la posibilidad de que la mejor razón sea simplemente observarnos a nosotros mismos”.
Y, esa resultó ser la razón, para vernos desde afuera como planeta. Cuando recibimos la foto de nuestro planeta, fue una revelación mundial que cambió la forma de pensar. A partir de entonces, nuestra conciencia nunca ha sido el mismo. Nos vimos como realmente somos; solo en la inmensa oscuridad del espacio; Pequeño, delicado, resplandeciente de vida, divina belleza.
No fue hasta principios de los años 70 que comenzamos a pensar en la ética y el cuidado del medio ambiente. Esto sólo fue comentado por los místicos y los ambientalistas, pero desde entonces todo ha cambiado. El mundo ha respondido con una gran cantidad de reflexiones importantes. Ahora tenemos las herramientas científicas y el pensamiento filosófico y ético para comenzar a razonar acerca de nuestra responsabilidad con respecto al medio ambiente.
Así en la Tierra como en el Cielo
Laudato Si’ lo explicó todo
Pinté esta obra (pintura al óleo sobre panel de madera, 42 x 57 ″) cuando era miembro de la Comisión de Justicia y Paz de C.O.R. aquí en San Juan, Puerto Rico en 1992, inspirado en parte por el deterioro de las condiciones ambientales en esta isla tan delicada, el sobredesarrollo y la contaminación irreflexivos que ocurrían, y la destrucción de las comunidades locales. La encíclica del Papa Francisco Laudato Si’ Sobre el Cuidado de la Casa Común lo explicó todo por completo. Su mensaje fue claro y dijo de forma elocuente. Fue una aclaración teológica de lo que decía toda la ciencia, y para mí, ¡el huracán María aplastó la prueba de ello!
Dos posibilidades
La pintura es retórica en el concepto y nos presenta dos posibilidades: una en armonía con la Creación de Dios, un futuro de justicia, paz y sostenibilidad. El otro del saqueo, el caos, la guerra sin fin y el colapso final de la naturaleza y la vida en nuestro planeta, tal como lo conocemos.
La Tierra está pintada en forma de huevo, simbolizando metafóricamente la fragilidad del ecosistema de la Tierra, así como su abundancia y fertilidad natural.
La metáfora del huevo también se utiliza para mostrar un pacto roto y la ruptura resultante de la frágil ecología de la tierra y la caída de la humanidad en desgracia causada por un sistema económico lineal defectuoso basado en el abuso del poder y la riqueza, simbolizado por el uso profano de oro.
Una cuestión moral
No hay duda acerca de esto. Nosotros, los humanos tenemos las herramientas para destruir o salvar a la civilización, porque Dios nos creó con esa capacidad. Pero también nos creó con libre albedrío.
Cuidar el medio ambiente es una cuestión moral. Papa San Juan Pablo II hizo hincapié en la prioridad de la ética sobre la técnica, y el espíritu sobre la materia.
Si destruimos la tierra, destruimos la creación divina, nos destruimos a nosotros mismos.
This painting has been exhibited in Centro Bellas Artes Alejandro Cruz Ortiz, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, 26 March-26 June 1998; Departamento del Estado, San Juan, Puerto Rico, La Cuaresma (Lent) 2011; Universidad del Este Ana G Mendez, Carolina, Puerto Rico, La Cuaresma (Lent) 2005; Parroquia San Ignacio de Loyola, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2023; and in many public places and churches in Puerto Rico.
When Jesus was resurrected, becoming for us The Christ,in that moment, the world was changed forever!
Dark was the time when Judas betrayed Jesus, which led to His suffering, crucifixion, and death on the Cross; a time when the faith of His followers was tested. But when the Messiah, Christ, rose on the third day, their prayers were answered, their faith was fulfilled, and their joy overflowed.
We are living in such dark times, and now it is our faith that is being tested. We feel the sting of betrayal. Through our tears and outrage, we better understand how Jesus suffered, and we are drawn closer to Him.
The feeling is like Death–dark, empty, and cold. But as His disciples came to know, we recognize that Jesus is resurrected; therefore, our faith is fortified, our resolve strong! For we live in the Light and have our being in the Love and Mercy of our Savior Christ Jesus.
Christ is Resurrected! Hallelujah!
My major project for the last five years has been to paint the Stations of the Resurrection (Via Lucis: The Way of Light) when Jesus appeared to His disciples beginning on Easter Sunday over a period of 40 days until he ascended and then gifted them with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
My most recent wood sculpture, carved during the period of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Approximately 3 feet high, carved in Tropical Cedar because of the desired color and its resistance to termites here in Puerto Rico. For Capilla Maria Auxiliadora, a small chapel in rural Carolina, Puerto Rico.
I’ve carved St. Joseph as a protector and a traveler; a stand-up guy who was always looking out for his wife and child, ready to defend them along the way of life, which was full of dangers. He was a man of deep Faith who received his revelations through DREAMS: that Mary was the mother of God and that he should get out of Bethlehem and go to Egypt to escape the danger of Herod, who wanted to kill the newborn King. Of course, we know he was a carpenter and must have been a wonderful father.
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Mi escultura de madera más reciente, tallada durante la época de los huracanes Irma y María. Aproximadamente 3 pies de alto, tallado en Cedro Tropical por el color deseado y su resistencia a las termitas aquí en Puerto Rico. Para la Capilla María Auxiliadora, una pequeña capilla en la zona rural de Carolina, Puerto Rico.
He tallado a San José como protector y viajero; un hombre recto que siempre estaba pendiente de su esposa y su hijo, dispuesto a defenderlos a lo largo del camino de la vida, que estaba lleno de peligros. Era un hombre de profunda fe que recibió revelaciones a través de sueños: que María era la madre de Dios y que debía salir de Belén e ir a Egipto para escapar del peligro de Herodes, que quería matar al Rey recién nacido. Por supuesto, sabemos que era carpintero y debe haber sido un padre maravilloso.
In 2001 I was deeply honored and humbled to be commissioned by the archbishop of San Juan, Monsignor Roberto González Nieves, to paint the official portrait of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, to be given as a gift from Puerto Rico to the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City where it is exhibited in the Hall of Saints.
I was subsequently interviewed by EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)
At the core of Blessed Carlos’ spirituality (Pope John Paul II said) was his faith in the Resurrection. He promoted the Easter Vigil as the defining moment of Christian spiritual life, repeating often, “We live for that Night.” (Vivimos para esa Noche)
A 27 sq ft acrylic painting by A.VonnHartung, for the students of Colegio (High School) San Juan Bosco at Parroquia Maria Auxiliadora, Cantera, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Párroco Padre Colacho SDB).
Commissioned by the Director and Theology Professor, Padre Jorge Santiago SDB .
Was installed in the main hallway of the school on the Feast Day of San Juan Bosco 31 January 2017.
The painting expresses an Epiphany of Faith, Joy, Love of Community and Learning, so much evident in the Christ-filled spirit of the school.
Una pintura acrílica de 27 pies cuadrados de A.VonnHartung, para los estudiantes del Colegio San Juan Bosco en la Parroquia María Auxiliadora, Cantera, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Párroco Padre Colacho SDB).
Encargado por el Director y Profesor de Teología, Padre Jorge Santiago SDB.
Fue instalado en el pasillo principal del colegio el día de la Fiesta de San Juan Bosco el 31 de enero de 2017.
La pintura expresa una Epifanía de Fe, Alegría, Amor a la Comunidad y Aprendizaje, tan evidente en el espíritu lleno de Cristo de la escuela.
Director of School Padre Jorge Antonio Santiago SDB with artist Arturo Vonn Hartung and Felix “Junior” Rodriguez
Commissioned by the Archbishop of San Juan, S.E.R. Monseñor Roberto González Nieves for the arch above the main doors of Catedral San Juan Bautista in San Juan, Puerto Rico to commemorate Pope Francis’ declared Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy 2015-2016.
Painting by A.Vonn Hartung
Our Merciful Christ opens the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness to all who pass through them with repentant hearts.
The waves bow down to our Lord as when He calmed the Sea of Galilee, also representing the Island of Puerto Rico as well as Earth “Our Common Home“, an Island in the vast darkness and empty space of the endless universe which surrounds us.
The Doors open onto the paradise that is Heaven, the reward of all the faithful and repentant souls.
Christ Opening the Doors of Mercy at Catedral San Juan BautistaInstalling painting at Catedral San Juan Bautista
In response to our Holy Father Pope Francis’s call to dialogue and action on Climate Change in his Encyclical Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home, published in 2015, I offer this metaphorical painting, On Earth as it is in Heaven, as a visual prayer to raise consciousness and to encourage dialogue
The title of the painting, “On Earth as it is in Heaven,” is taken from the prayer Jesus taught us. That is, the Lord’s Prayer: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, On Earth as it is in Heaven.
The painting is rhetorical in concept and presents us with only two possibilities.
One in harmony with God’s Creation. In other words, a future of justice, peace, and sustainability in the natural world. Conversely, the other is plunder, chaos, and endless war—subsequently, an ultimate collapse of nature and life on our planet, as we know it.
Moreover, the painting poses a question to the viewer, each one of us, regardless of our religion or beliefs. Which future do we want to live in, leave to our children and future generations?
