The Dream of St. Joseph.
Room with a view.
I have painted this image many times - not a copy of the above depiction - rather the subject. I have created icons and a few retablo style paintings of the dream of St. Joseph. One image in particular, which I could never show - was my favorite, and often reminded those who saw it of Frida Khalo’s work. (I felt it was more influenced by George Tooker, shown below.) Unfortunately, I never had any of these images photographed professionally, and all of them are “lost” - that is, I do not remember who bought them or where they have ended up.
The scene of the annunciation to St. Joseph - in my imagination - does not include the Blessed Virgin, except as imaged in a faint apparition of the Virgin of the Sign - but not at all as if she is in the same room. In my mind, Joseph is young, troubled in sleep, with the angel appearing to him preceding the vision of the Virgin. The angel is also male in appearance - almost a mirror image of Joseph - and closely resembling the young Christ. (Joseph would be the supposed father of Jesus, hence, I like to imagine Christ as resembling him.)
Perplexed and conflicted.
I think the image of the dream of St. Joseph is very much for men - it is about an ordinary man, the critical choice which he is presented with, and one that will affect him for the rest of his life. It seems to me that on some level, the decisions Joseph faced are similar to the issues many men must deal with in life. Such as the anxieties concerning life’s purpose and meaning, as well as issues of accepting the responsibilities in life which affect a man’s vocation and career.
More deeply, a man of faith may well encounter a similar dark night to what Joseph experienced, perhaps challenging him morally and affectively. Though St. Joseph was perplexed, he remained faithful, and as the Gospel tells us, through the message of an angel, the Saint was permitted a view of God’s plan for him.
Joseph can be a model for us, but more importantly, and effectively, an intercessor when we are confronted by life’s challenges. St. Joseph, being a just man, could not abandon his responsibility towards the Blessed Virgin. Even though one could say he had been emotionally conflicted, Joseph nobly decided to put the holy Virgin away quietly. Of course, God intervened, and St. Joseph was no longer afraid.
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
My old school reports would say one of two things, ‘must pay more attention’ or, ‘must try harder’.
Not much has changed.
When I read that you are an artist, I began to understand you better.You make more sense to me now.
December 23rd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Dear Terry, I just knew that you would post on St. Joseph’s dream. I love the painting. There is another at Vultus Christi.
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Terry, how do you let your work go? I find that even my own poor artwork is so beloved because of what I put into it, that I can only bear to release prints.
Many years ago I gave a watercolor to my Dad, and he gave it to a lady where he lived. She loved the word so much that he felt he had to let her have it, and it became a treasure to her. But just the same, I remember feeling very hurt that my Dad would give away something so precious.
Obviously I didn’t understand his giving nature, nor the shortness of his life…it was maybe 10 years before he died.
Maybe that incident influences my selfishness?
Or is it difficult for most artists to let things go?
I haven’t done any work for a very long time, and perhaps I have no real talent to speak of…certainly I have no training. I would just find it hard to let such labor go into unknown hands. Each artist puts so much of themselves to a given work, it MUST be respected.
Please explain this to me.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Julie - it is difficult for me to explain what is like to let go of my work, either through a sale or as a gift… but I find it much more difficult to keep any of my work. What I retain is put away - I don’t really like looking at it.
It is complicated and has much to do with how I was raised. That is all I can say.
January 1st, 2008 at 9:25 am
I know you won’t share it with me, but I must still say that I would love to see your art.
It is said that the eyes are the window to a persons soul, I believe that the image painted by the artist may allow us a glimpse into the artists very soul.
Perhaps that is why you do not wish to show it, perhaps it makes you feel vulnerable in a way that you do not want to be.
Just an observation from your friendly untrained analyist!
I pray for you a much blessed 2008,I was delighted to see your comment on my blog in the wee small hours of this New Year.
Happy New Year Terry!