Unlike the fierce waves in his painting, "Jesus Calms the Storm," in this picture, John Lu Hung-nien has made the water completely calm-and yet ominous. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are escaping into Egypt, perhaps crossing the rivulets in the Nile Delta. The scene is extremely quiet, but it is full of uncertainty. In the misty water, we cannot even see where the water stops and the sky begins. What will happen next for the Holy Family? It is uncertain. But even if they are uneasy, they are going forward in faith, trusting in God.
A convert to Christianity, John Lu Hung-nien (Lu Hungrian) made beautiful Christian paintings. His aim in his Catholic art was to create the experience of the sacred. His art was part of The New Cultural Movement in early 20th Century China, a mixture of East and West. This painting, from which we have selected only a portion, was painted in Beijing, China, towards the end of the Communist Revolution, which places it outside of copyright law. The original painting is Chinese watercolor on silk, mounted as hanging scroll. 28.5x53 cm. (source: researchgate.net and usfca.edu)
We offer other Chinese Catholic prints on our site you might like, including "Jesus Calms the Storm," and "The Annunciation."
** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.
- Acid-free paper - Archival pigments, rated to last for generations. - Cardboard backer - Above story of the art - Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.
Thanks for your interest!
Thanks! Sue & John
"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II
