I stumbled upon Daniel Bonnell’s art a few years ago while looking for a creative way to engage the various liturgical feasts in the Church calendar. Now he serves as a regular ‘go to’ for me when I am anxious to revamp, rekindle or re-engage my understanding of scripture. Over the next few weeks we will enter the Season of Lent marking the time period of prayer and preparation before Easter. Here is a print of the painting Lamentation of the Father by Daniel Bonnell to provide some inspiration this season.
Daniel Bonnell is a working artist, an author, and a teacher. He is known throughout the United States, England and Israel as one of the few noted sacred painters of the 21st Century. Bonnell received his BFA degree from the Atlanta College of Art and his MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and his paintings are found in churches around the world, and private collections. If curious, his art may be found at BonnellArt.com.
The Lamentation of the Father surrounds both Lament and Celebration, a tension that we have become accustomed to in our current cultural climate.It's intense in the themes of discord, mockery, humility, and loneliness. Bonnell captures it all. Interestingly, he chose to paint this scene on ‘grocery bag’ paper on purpose because the surface is humble, modest and world wide. There is so much to draw from in this painting!
Bonnell was quoted as saying that “every piece of art is a personal devotional letter or offering to the Lord.” For me, his painting beautifully depicts the breadth of what occurs on the cross. Some elements to note:
He had a three step process with his paper canvas 1) paint the painting, 2) ball up the paper, and then 3) gently flatten it again with an iron to depict an aged and weathered texture.
The earth tones of the painting are contrasted with the funnel of white rain from above and God’s reign pouring out below.
The stark outlining of Jesus' body subtly shows how Christ’s humanity is contained within his divinity.
The outstretched arms show a savior who has not only been ‘sent’ through embrace but ‘given’ obedience.
THE CRUCIFIXION- Mark 15: 21-39 -The Message
21 There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus’ cross. 22-24 The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning “Skull Hill.” They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn’t take it. And they nailed him to the cross. They divided up his clothes and threw dice to see who would get them.25-30 They nailed him up at nine o’clock in the morning. The charge against him—the king of the jews—was scrawled across a sign. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”
31-32 The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—but he can’t save himself! Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!” Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.33-34 At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 35-36 Some of the bystanders who heard him said, “Listen, he’s calling for Elijah.” Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”37-39 But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, “This has to be the Son of God!”
Lent is a complicated season on the church calendar, embracing both Lament and Celebration at the same moment. Grief, sorrow and weeping are inescapable within the truth of the Crucifiction. Conversely, celebration is demanded when one appreciates the depth and power of what occurred on the Cross. The gospel can be found at this intersection of those two realities. Jesus, promising ‘full life’ (Celebration), while embracing the label ‘man of sorrows’ (Lament). The Lenten season heightens our awareness of both, but offers great hope. The 40 days of Lent begin with Ash Wednesday on March 2, 2022. Let's continue to live at that intersection! If you have your own thoughts on the painting, please contact me.
-Ken Tank.