Additional Information

This is the first in a series of paintings reimagining scenes from the Bible. The Visitation, as it’s known in christianity, is a scene from Luke’s gospel in which Mary, newly pregnant with the baby Jesus, visits her relative Elizabeth who is also pregnant. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb ‘leaps for joy’ at the sound of Mary’s voice and Mary responds ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices’ (Luke 1:46-47) – the beginning of the beautiful Magnificat.

The visitation has been painted by many masters, including Giotto, Raphael and Rubens as its such a significant event in the christian story. Pope Benedict XVI suggested that ‘the two women, both of them pregnant, embody expectation,’ and represent ‘the beauty of the greeting,’ where there is ‘reciprocal acceptance, listening, making room for another.’

I hope my painting captures some of this sense of expectation — the mutual joy, hope and excitement of the two women with their enormous roles in the cosmic theodrama, but also some of the apprehension. (And, also, maybe, just a little bit of morning sickness…)

Show Less

Acrylic on Canvas. Edges painted dark brown. Wire on back and ready to hang.