The angels watch over you and walk with you. Everyday.
It does not matter if you are rich or poor as this painting demonstrates.
The true judge of self is inside of each of us. We are loved for our true inner self, not for the material things we own.
While I sat admiring this painting in our local art museum, a very friendly guide walked over to me. We had an animated conversation about the painting. She wanted to make sure I really understood what it was about – angels watch us no matter if we are rich or poor. (I liked it for the angels and had not really noticed the difference in clothing.)
This painting, The King and the Shepherd (1888) by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, is displayed at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, PA. The description next to it says:
” The artist’s introduction of angels leading each traveler by the hand is unusual, as is the single figure who represents each group. The pairings visually suggest the equality, in the face of divinity, between the wealthy king and the humble peasant. In the context of the enormous social inequalities rife in Victorian England, this message smacked of social and political radicalism. The Latin description of the journey of the shepherds: ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made knows to us’ (Luke 2:15)”
I think it is interesting that each of them is being led from a different path to one that joins together. While the path does not go further, I believe it is because they have reached the end of their lives. It is at that point that material things do not matter.
I have always enjoyed looking at the detail and brushstrokes of this painting, but with a more in depth meaning to it, this painting means so much more to me today. I am glad to share it with you.