The Catholic Mystery
Maurice Denis

A young priest and two altar boys approach the Virgin Mary, showing what happens in our worship and prayers, the presence of Jesus, Mary, and the Angels and Saints, a comingling of Heaven and Earth. The Catholic Mystery. As a painter, Denis made visible what normally is invisible.

We like this picture because it shows the reality behind our faith, the presence of those not seen. In some ways this picture resembles the Annunciation, the seated Mary receiving her guests as she received Gabriel. The Annunciation is perhaps the great Catholic mystery, the incarnation of God in an earthen vessel.

According to Christie's, Maurice Denis (1870-1943) painted 6 versions of this picture starting in April of 1889 when he was 18. There was a Catholic revival going on at the time in France, and many great painters used Catholic imagery in their work. His paintings were very well received. Denis was especially devout, and continued to paint Catholic pictures for the rest of his life, having a career as one of the most important painters of his day. One of the versions of this picture, a pointillist version, shown above, sold at Christies for $101,575. We have shown it for interest; it is not included with the print.

** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a blank border all around the image of about .5" for 5x7, 1.3" for 8.5x11, 1.6" for 11x14, and 1.75" for 13x17". All Approx! The white space gives the framed picture a finished look without using 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