Christ Is Born
Luke 2:1-7
The Birth of Jesus
"2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."
A project for our church was to create a series of paintings that could be used during Advent. The solution was to create a series of paintings that would fit together to tell the story. The top painting "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" has two companion paintings... "The Journey to Bethlehem", pairs to create "No Room In The Inn", and this Painting, "Christ is Born", replaces the Journey painting. "Christ is Born" was inspired by a intense painting by Charlie Roman, of Ponce, Puerto Rico. His intimate portrait of the Holy Family touched my heart, and with his permission, I have used his concept of intimacy to create this painting, completing the series;
O Little Town Of Bethelem
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by..."
Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem.
This painting was done in such a way that the Christmas story can be told by changing the lower panels to the Birth of Christ.
An oil painting depicting Bethlehem in the distance. The upper panel of a vertical diptych but may be used separately.
Journey To Bethlehem Lower Panel
Luke 2 - The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
An oil printing depicting Joseph and Mary on the road to Bethlehem. This is the lower panel of a vertical diptych although it may be used separately.
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