Wednesday Roaming through Norton Simon

The Norton Simon museum offers delights at every turn.

"St. Joseph at the infant Christ" by Bociccio, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, 1539-1709. The dad gets to hold and admire the son who he will raise and provide. Proud Papa!

"St. Francis in Prayer" 1638-1639 by Francisco de Zurbarian (Spanish,1598-1664)
St. Francis of Assisi was a mystic and poet who founded the Franciscans.  He is portrayed meditating on the suffering of Christ.  The description says that this focus of the artist is in keeping the with Counter-Reformation aesthetics as defined by St. Ignatius of Loyola who prescribed directness and realism in the representation of religious subjects.

"David Slaying Goliath", 1616 by Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640).
The description refers to the painting depicting the point that David is about to sever the head of his adversary.

"Christ Crowned with Thorns", 1633-39 by Matthias Stom (Dutch, 1600-1651)
The description refers to how Christ was mocked by the soldiers, who called him "Kin of the Jews."The scene is lit by a single candle for strong contrasts of light and dark.  Note the taunting expressions of the soldiers and the vulnerable yet solemn resolve of Christ.