Carl Bloch: THE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

THE STORY:

This painting Mary and Joseph finding a young Jesus after searching for three days.

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  And said unto them, How is it that ye sought me?  wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?"

ANALYSIS:

This painting is set in Herod’s temple, where the Jewish elders express the astonishment Luke records.  Mary and Joseph approach the steps of the temple, their relief at finding their son visible.

“Here Bloch merges traditional religious imagery with his interest in scenes of everyday life.  A young street boy, probably painted after one of Bloch’s own children, sits on a lower step of the temple.  He looks curiously at the couple, perhaps wondering what all the fuss is about.  He holds a leash attached to the caged dove, probably a reference to the doves sold for offerings in the temple” (Pheysey and Holzapfel 73).

I like the stairs leading up and the columns flanking Jesus and the elders of the temple. They represent that this young boy is the King of Kings and more than the pillars holding up the temple.

PERSONAL IMPACT:

My favorite part of this painting are Mary and Joseph's anxious hands. They perfectly show both the anxiety and relief the young parents must have felt when their precious child disappeared. I mean, I know helicopter parenting probably wasn't a thing back then, but any parent can sympathize with a three-day disappearance.

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