Francis' favorite blasphemous painting has arrived in Italy. According to John David Mooney, a former artist-in-residence at the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo, in Catholic New World's article, Art Institute of Chicago sending pope’s favorite painting to Italy,
“White Crucifixion” launched Chagall to do other paintings of the Jewish crucified Christ but none were so moving, says Chicago artist John David Mooney.
“This painting is different than all of his other crucifixions. He was doing a lot of them and they were all clearly Christ as a Jew,” Mooney said. “But this one is totally different and I think he knew that at the time.”
Mooney, who has a permanent sculpture on the lawn of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and a permanent sculpture at Castel Gandolfo in Italy — the traditional summer home of popes — said it’s a timeless painting.
“It’s such a contemporary piece,” Mooney said because, within the painting, the Jews fleeing persecution end up in boats as refugees, much like those fleeing persecution in the Middle East today and trying to make their way to Europe.
...By painting a Jewish Christ, Chagall was sending a message to the “Christian” countries persecuting the Jews. Yet, at the same time he was speaking to all generations, Mooney believes.
But most of all there is hope in the work Chagall created. The ray of light coming down from the top of the painting represents the hope of God for his people.
“I really see it as a very, very pastoral painting,” Mooney said and a good painting for Pope Francis to use as a teaching tool.
“He has to teach the Gospel and he chose a painting that teaches the Gospel,” he said. “God is found in humanity and he’s accompanying humanity.”
The painting is part of an exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy named, Divine Beauty: From Van Gogh to Chagall and Fontana and runs from 24 September 2015 to 24 January 2016. It fits right in with the majority of the artwork in the exhibition due to most of the works being blasphemous. If this isn't 'divine beauty' to a Catholic or to God, who finds it pleasing? One of the days (between 9th & 13th of November) during the exhibition, the “White Crucifixion” will be moved to the Baptistery of St. John temporarily in order so Francis can view it in private during his one-day trip to Florence.
This is what blasphemy looks like.
The explanation at the foot of the painting reads, "This painting, dated 1938, is a bold statement depicting the persecution
of the Jews. Chagall replaces Christ's loincloth with a prayer shawl
and His crown of thorns with a kippah, adding figures in traditional
garb, synagogues burning and people fleeing in fear. That Pope Francis
has declared it to be his favorite painting may be due to the bold
interfaith spirit it exudes."
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