Mary Playing with Jesus –by John Lawson – Catholic Art Print – Catholic Gift – Archival Quality

This dear little picture shows Mary playing with her baby boy. It must have been something they did all the time, but it is rarely portrayed in art. Jesus is hoisted up on the wooden ledge like it is a throne, his mother is kneeling before him, as though in obeisance. But they are just playing, and it is a joyful moment. Two doves look on. In 19th Century art, in a scene with Jesus, doves represent the souls of the viewer, you and me. For us, this picture is one of the sweetest scenes we've seen. John Lawson was a painter, sculptor, and stained glass designer, but his main work was illustratiing books and magazines. Sources differ on his brith year, either 1868 or 1838. Some place his death in 1898. We think this picture, watercolor and ink on paper, was painted maybe in 1893. In later years he worked with his eldest daugher, an artist named Lizzie Mack, whose charming work can be found online. (source: www.chrisbeetles.com)** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is