I visited the Uffizi yesterday afternoon with a rather heavy heart . The news has me down---the killing of children and adults in a Nashville school, and the lies and lawlessness of Trump and elected Republicans. And so, to help me gain a more hopeful perspective, I decided to see what the 14 and 15 century paintings might tell me from a Christian perspective. Three particularly caught my attention.
1. The Annunciation, by Botticelli. Angel Gabriel is pleading with Mary to saying yes to being the mother of God, while Mary is resisting: No way! I don't want to go through all the pain that my son will experience.
2. The Nativity, by Hugo Ver der Goes. The scene is filled with foreboding; no joy present.
3. The Pieta of San Romigio, by Giottino. Agony, deep grief, no hope.
1. The Annunciation, by Botticelli. Angel Gabriel is pleading with Mary to saying yes to being the mother of God, while Mary is resisting: No way! I don't want to go through all the pain that my son will experience.
2. The Nativity, by Hugo Ver der Goes. The scene is filled with foreboding; no joy present.
3. The Pieta of San Romigio, by Giottino. Agony, deep grief, no hope.
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These paintings depict three of the unique events in Jesus' life described in scripture: his conception, birth, and death. And yet, much of his human life was no different from ours. However, it is his divine life that gives me hope because his death was not the end, nor is it for me. In churches and museums all over Florence (including the Uffizi) we see the mystery of life after death, for Jesus and through him, faith for us.
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