hello hello and Merry Christmas! In spirit of the Holiday I’m here to talk to you about the reason for the season!

Look at Adoration Of The Magi here by Giuseppe Chiari.

it is very nice, very striking, regal and powerful! That’s kind of the issue though! Jesus was born in a manger in pretty humble circumstances to a family facing political persecution (especially after Herod got wind of the birth.) So, the big, loud, and ostentatious paintings like the Chiari piece always feel like they’re leaving refugees, poverty, and persecution out so the story is more politically convenient for the powerful. My favourite pieces of Nativity Artwork are the ones that highlight the rest of the story. From the emotionally arresting scene of a scared Mom holding her child in Massacre Of The Innocents by Léon Cogniet to the direct provocation of Caged Holy Family by Rev Lee Curtis

works like these highlight the reason for the season: compassion, care, and kindness for everyone especially the least fortunate and the outcasts. Merry Christmas!

Here’s a Tumblr post I found while researching this mini rant. It has more examples:

just for fun: Marian Fr. Edward Looney reviewing the Netflix Film Mary