Supporters of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ladera Ranch recently had the rare opportunity to witness the creation of a holy work of art that will, upon completion of the church, hang behind its altar.
Renowned painter Joseph Adolphe has been commissioned to paint “Crucifix of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
According to Holy Trinity Parish business manager MaryKate Marconi, Fr. Reynold, pastor at the church, had always wanted a painting to grace the altar rather than a traditional crucifix. With a background in the arts, he was well connected to the art community and it was recommended that he contact Adolphe, who was born in Alberta, Canada and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York where he earned his MFA. His work has been featured internationally and has been described by art critics as having “an old master/expressionist quality.”
The artist came to the Christ Cathedral campus to begin the work of painting. Over the course of two weeks he sketched and then painted the 30-foot piece. The canvas will take six months to fully dry and then, according to Marconi, it will be moved on a flatbed truck to Holy Trinity in time for the church’s dedication on Nov. 11.
Full story at OC Catholic.
Wonder if Our Lord is pleased?
And why would He not be?
Is the photograph out of focus?
The painting is not fully dried yet … will take 6 months.
How will drying fix its blurred appearance? Dried paint won’t magically resolve into focus by itself. If the painting is blurry now, it’s still going to be blurry in six months. I don’t like the painting. Perhaps it’s okay for display in a school auditorium or office building, but it’s not at the level of magnificence that ought to characterize art selected for location in a sanctuary, behind the altar.
My personal sense is that God would be pleased. The painting is a professional effort to remind the faithful of the purpose of the Mass and other events in the church. If the technical ‘rules’ require a crucifix, I’m sure the good pastor can find a crucifix and a location that meets those rules.
According to a friend who is a priest, a crucifix is required in a Catholic Church- a painting does not suffice.
A processional cross satisfies that requirement. Think of all the churches that have paintings behind the altar. There’s nothing wrong with art such as this behind the altar. It just seems to me that this particular painting isn’t that well done. It looks blurry to me.
GIRM 308 (3rd ed., 2010). “Likewise, either on the altar or near it, there is to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, a cross clearly visible to the assembled people. It is desirable that such a cross should remain near the altar…”
However, the altar is supposed to contain “relics of Saints, even those not Martyrs, under the altar” (n.302) but many churches and chapel’s altar tables since 1970 don’t have these either.
In a few years a rainbow flag will suffice.
Perhaps the painter intended the painting to be ‘out of focus’. Is this similar to the painter’s other works?
Anonymous 2: you are right. The way things are going, in a couple of years sanctuaries will be graced with either a rainbow or a nazi flag.
The work of Joseph Adolphe is said to have an “old master/expressionist” quality. Is this why the painting appears “blurry?” Does it fit in with the style of religious art and architecture of the church where it will be placed?? Above all– religious art and architecture is at its best, when created for the glory of God, to uplift the human soul to Heaven! In past eras, long ago– many talented religious artists and architects were blessed to do this!! We cannot really see this painting well, nor see how it will appear, when placed in the church for which it was created… it is also possible, that in the future, other priests may place other religious artwork, candles, and even a crucifix, in the same area, along with this…
I will finish my above post! Yes, it is possible that other priests may, in the future, place different religious objects, artwork, candles, and even a nice crucifix, along with this painting, in the same area of the church. One cannot know the overall effect, until one sees it! Sometimes, even a big piece of art may appear less noticeable, when placed with other objects, in a particular area– or else, the effect will be very harmonious, and one will just get an overall effect– hopefully, a religious, uplifting effect, for contemplation of God! (It is true– a crucifix is best!)