Catholic Sacred Art in Puerto Rico

Television Interview with A.Vonn Hartung

Update: See the video interview

EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) will be airing an interview on March 5, 2015 with A.Vonn Hartung about Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, and Vonn’s experience painting the portrait that is at the Vatican.

THE CHURCH IN PUERTO RICO (30 minute duration)
Thursday March 5 at 3:00 am & 6:30 pm Eastern Time
[Puerto Rico time: 4:00 am and 7:30 pm]

The first 15 minutes of the program is a conversion story about a young man who turned his life around and is now studying for the priesthood; the second part is the interview with Vonn.

The EWTN program can be seen on–
Liberty Cablevision Channel 103 ( in Puerto Rico)
Dish Network Channel 261
DirecTV Channel 350
ROKU

Please visit the EWTN website for channel listings in your local area.
http://www.ewtn.com

Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago portrait by AVonnHartung_at Pontifical North American College Vatican
“Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago”
Oil portrait-
at Pontifical North American College, Vatican

 

This is the oil portrait of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago by A.Vonn Hartung © 2001, presented to the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican on the occasion of the beatification of Carlos Manuel on 29 april 2001, and is on permanent display there in the Hall of Saints. Learn more

Buy a giclee print of this painting

 

 

 

 

St. Francis lived in the Holy Spirit

St. Francis lived in the Holy Spirit

St. Francis lived in the Holy Spirit.

Indeed he was in love with life and all of God’s Creation.
Hence he brought the Light of Christ to a darkened world!

READ THIS IN SPANISH

St.Francis lived in the Holy Spirit
“St. Francis of Assisi” ceramic sculpture by A.Vonn Hartung, commissioned by Ramón Rivera and Julie A. Thomas

St. Francis lived in the Holy Spirit. In a Gothic arch, a sign of the times in which he lived, St. Francis stands among the fallen and broken timbers of the abandoned San Damiano Church, scattered building blocks at his feet and the Cross of Damiano above, surrounded by his beloved birds and animals: the doves, songbirds, the lamb and the wolf symbolizing peace and harmony… the wolf tamed and throating harmony to Francis’ melody played on his lute and sung as Prayer.

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El Buen Pastor / The Good Shepherd

On Sunday we celebrated “The Good Shepherd”

 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. They follow me and I give them eternal life… (Jn 10:27)

 

El Buen Pastor/Good Shepherd painting by A.VonnHartung
El Buen Pastor / Good Shepherd painting by A.VonnHartung

When Padre Jaime Vázquez commissioned this painting, “El Buen Pastor / The Good Shepherd”, as part of my research I visited Ochoa Agrícola (agricultural store) in Caguas, Puerto Rico. They have scores of sheep, mostly lambs and yearlings.

I worked among them getting close-up sketches and the feel of them.

It is such an important part of bringing what we paint to life, to know as much as possible the essence of what it is we are making visible, which in reality is merely a thin film of paint on a two-dimensional canvas.

Closeup detail of painting “El Buen Pastor” (4 x 8-feet) by AVonnHartung, commissioned by Padre Jaime Vázquez Rojas in 2003 for “Parroquia El Buen Pastor” in Guaynabo (Apolo), Puerto Rico

Buy a giclee print of this painting

 

AVonnHartung with his painting ElBuenPastor

 

VIEW THE VIDEO—“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them. They follow me and I give them eternal life… (Jn 10:27) In this video A.Vonn Hartung speaks to a group of parishioners about his painting “El Buen Pastor”— In 2015 the parishioners of his church, San Ignacio de Loyola in Puerto Rico, under the leadership of Dra Señora Laura Gorbea organized a CARAVAN OF CARS to begin to make the rounds to see the Churches with Sacred Art that he had completed. We started with three churches in the metropolitan area. The painting in this video was commissioned by Padre Jaime Vázquez Rojas (may he rest in peace) of the Church of El Buen Pastor on Ave. Apolo in the town of Guaynabo.

NOTE: Due to the low resolution of this video, optimal viewing would be on a smartphone rather than a desktop computer.

Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez

Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez was beatified thirteen years ago today on April 29, 2001, by His Holiness (now Saint) John Paul II. Furthermore, “he was the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born layperson and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified.

At the core of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez’ 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)

BlessedCarlosManuel Rodriguez2_vonn hartung
Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez
Oil portrait by A. Vonn Hartung 2001

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. Significantly, it was to be given as a gift from Puerto Rico to the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City. Indeed it is exhibited there in the Hall of Saints.

The Portrait is painted with various symbolic elements. They express a visual prayer that “speaks to the eye”. In other words, what was it that helped bring Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez to such an intimate connectedness to our Lord and Savior? The absolute serenity and joy in Charlie’s look is the faith that we seek. It is the faith that seeks us.

Buy a giclee print of this painting

 

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He is Risen

"He is Risen" is a carved tabernacle door by A.VonnHartung“He is Risen” is a carved tabernacle door depicting the hillside of Jerusalem where Jesus was buried. The rising sun shows it to be Easter morning as the three women skip down the path together in an expression of great joy upon realizing that Jesus has risen.

The grave is empty, sculpted out to serve as the handle of the door, so each time the priest opens the tabernacle, he must put his hand into the empty tomb.

 

Commissioned in 1992 by Padre Jorge Castillejo Lluisiá for Casa de Niños Manuel Fernández Juncos, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Madre Dolorosa Sorrowful Mother

La Madre Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother) woodcarving by A.Vonn Hartung
La Madre Dolorosa
(Sorrowful Mother)
woodcarving by A.Vonn Hartung

 

Madre Dolorosa Sorrowful Mother, a high-relief wood carving, expresses the agony of Jesus through His mother Mary. Specifically, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, torturous scourging, trial, carrying of the cross, and finally the agonizing crucifixion and death at Golgotha.

The Sorrowful Mother contemplates the seven sorrows of her life, represented by the seven swords piercing her heart.

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Stations of the Cross

THESE STATIONS OF THE CROSS paintings show the process of conversion as Jesus was put to the test and tormented. Indeed, his persecutors came to understand who he was.

[Spanish translation follows]

Accordingly, the stations express a perspective that emphasizes the effect Jesus had on those present during his ordeal of carrying his own cross to his crucifixion on Calvary. Specifically, as the bystanders are pulled into his suffering we follow by observing closely, the actual Revelatory conversion of the principal Roman soldier.  Moreover, we see how the outpouring of grief and compassion of others around him begin to melt away his own cruelty and indifference.

Buy giclee prints of these Stations

Jesus takes up his cross, ViaCrucis station 2 painting by A.Vonn Hartung

See how he marvels at the deep and complete faith of Veronica as she wipes the face of our Lord. Furthermore, others also are going through the steps of conversion from confusion and despair to an awakening clarity. Significantly, we see this most clearly in the others behind Veronica.

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.ViaCrucis station 6 painting by A.VonnHartung

Thus we understand how the soldier at the foot of the cross could finally come to the realization that they had indeed crucified “The Son of God”.  (Mk 15:39)

 

 About the paintings

The artist painted these Stations of the Cross for Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Guaynabo (Barrio Amelia), Puerto Rico.  In fact, he conceived them with the community in mind. Moreover they include much of the spiritual and cultural qualities of Puerto Rico. Each Station measures 4-ft by 8-ft, painted in acrylic and gilded in copper and gold. They surround and crown the nave of the church.

Read More about these paintings

View contemplative video of these Stations of the Cross

See video The Passion of our Lord

Ver video La Pasión de nuestro Señor

 

Commissioned by Padre Antonio “Tito” José Vázquez

Photos by Greger Norrevik

 

Las pinturas de estas ESTACIONES DE LA CRUZ muestran el proceso de conversión cuando Jesús fue puesto a prueba y atormentado. Sus perseguidores llegaron a comprender quién era.

De hecho, las estaciones expresan una perspectiva que hace hincapié en el efecto que Jesús tuvo en los presentes durante su terrible experiencia de llevar su propia cruz a su crucifixión en el Calvario. A medida que los transeúntes son arrastrados a su sufrimiento, seguimos observando de cerca la conversión Revelatoria real del principal soldado romano. Vemos cómo el torrente de dolor y compasión de los que le rodean comienzan a disipar su propia crueldad e indiferencia.

Jesus takes up his cross, ViaCrucis station 2 painting by A.Vonn Hartung

Vea cómo se maravilla de la fe profunda y completa de Verónica mientras limpia el rostro de nuestro Señor. Otros también están pasando por los pasos de conversión de la confusión y la desesperación a una claridad que despierta, como se ve más visiblemente en los otros detrás de Verónica.

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.ViaCrucis station 6 painting by A.VonnHartung

Así entendemos cómo el soldado al pie de la cruz pudo finalmente darse cuenta de que habían crucificado al “Hijo de Dios”. (Marcos 15:39)

 

Acerca de las pinturas

Estas Estaciones de la Cruz fueron pintadas para la Iglesia Santa Rosa de Lima en Guaynabo (Barrio Amelia), Puerto Rico. El artista los concibió con la comunidad en mente e incluyen gran parte de las cualidades espirituales y culturales de Puerto Rico. Cada estación mide 4 pies por 8 pies, pintada en acrílico y dorada en cobre y oro. Se rodean y coronan la nave de la iglesia.

Leer más acerca de estas pinturas

Ver videos contemplativos—

Stations of the Cross

 The Passion of our Lord

 La Pasión de nuestro Señor

Compre impresiones giclée de estas estaciones

 

Encargo del Padre Antonio “Tito” José Vázquez

Fotos por Greger Norrevik