• Home
  • New Page
  • Writings on the Theology of Art by James Patrick Reid
    • Fitly Framed Together: Art, Sports, and the Building Up of the Body of Christ
    • Matisse and Russian Icons
    • A Few Words on Traditional and Modern Art in the Light of Metaphysics
    • The Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series in New York
    • The Metaphysics of Art (Article in "The Catholic Thing")
    • Invisible Things Clearly Seen
    • Art and the Transfiguration of the World
  • Paintings by James Patrick Reid
  • The Iconography of The Baptism of Christ
  • The iconography in the "Annunciation"
  • The iconography in "Nazareth"
  • Byzantine Icons by the hand of James Patrick Reid
  • About James Patrick Reid
  • Blog -- Meditations on Sacred Masterworks
  • Contact
  • Menu

Sacred Paintings

  • Home
  • New Page
  • Writings on the Theology of Art by James Patrick Reid
    • Fitly Framed Together: Art, Sports, and the Building Up of the Body of Christ
    • Matisse and Russian Icons
    • A Few Words on Traditional and Modern Art in the Light of Metaphysics
    • The Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series in New York
    • The Metaphysics of Art (Article in "The Catholic Thing")
    • Invisible Things Clearly Seen
    • Art and the Transfiguration of the World
  • Paintings by James Patrick Reid
  • The Iconography of The Baptism of Christ
  • The iconography in the "Annunciation"
  • The iconography in "Nazareth"
  • Byzantine Icons by the hand of James Patrick Reid
  • About James Patrick Reid
  • Blog -- Meditations on Sacred Masterworks
  • Contact

Epiphany, painted by Piero della Francesca

January 08, 2017

Art historian Marilyn Aronberg Lavin showed that Piero della Francesca's "Baptism of Christ" actually has Epiphany for its theme. In the background the Magi journey toward Bethlehem, as one of them points to the sky. (There are four Magi here; the Scriptures never specify their number.) The Angels on the left allude to matrimony; note that two of them are crowned. As we sing in the Benedictus antiphon for Epiphany, "Today the Bridegroom claims his bride, the Church, since Christ has washed away her sins in Jordan's waters; the Magi hasten with their gifts to the royal wedding; and the wedding guests rejoice, for Christ has changed water into wine, alleluia."

Prev / Next

Sacred Paintings Blog

Here we will talk about great works of sacred art from various periods of Church history.


Latest Posts

You must select a collection to display.