Carl Bloch: LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME UNTO ME

THE STORY:

This painting illustrates one of my favorite stories from the Savior’s life.  Jesus’ followers brought their children to see Him, and “his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.   Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

ANALYSIS:

The composition of this painting is divided into three parts: two mothers on the left, Christ embracing the children in the middle, and the disciples restraining other mothers and children. There is also a balanced triangular composition in the shape of an X that centers on the most touching part of painting: Christ holding the little boy's hand.

Sweet.

On the far right, the Savior’s disciples hold the young children back to prevent them from bothering Jesus.  James E. Talmage suggests that the disciples’ viewpoint was influenced by their society, which believed that women and children occupied an inferior position in society (Talmage 476).  The children who have come to see Jesus have trustful, peaceful expressions on their face.  Other onlookers gather to see what the Savior will do. This represents a main theme of Christ's life: the peace of His love and miracles centered on him and the agog onlookers looking to make trouble or see for themselves.

I found this interesting: “Above the Savior’s head is a richly woven fabric with long tassels.  From the fifteenth century on, this “cloth of honor” appeared in artistic representations of important and powerful figures.  It was most often hung in a long panel behind the person to represent his nobility or high rank.  In this image, the cloth has been lifted up, perhaps as a sign of Christ’s openness as well as His nobility” (Pheysey and Holzapfel 85).

PERSONAL IMPACT: I love how the Christ of the New Testament makes waves by championing the most vulnerable in society: children, women, lepers, Samaritans. This is a tender portrayal of a loving Christ.


James A. Talmage, Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and His Mission according to Holy Scriptures both Ancient and Modern (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1962)

Dawn C. Pheysey and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, The Master’s Hand: the Art of Carl Heinrich Bloch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010) 85