At one time Saint Anne was one of the most important saints for the Catholic faithful after the Virgin Mary, of course. At times Anne and her daughter were depicted as co-equals in their ability to intervene and lead the faithful to salvation. In the photo above is a depiction of Anne from an 8th century wall painting in Nubia. She holds a finger to her lips reminding the viewers in the church to be still and listen.

Saint Anne was part of the divine plan (predestination) for the salvation of man. She is the grandmother, enabler, teacher, and a source for Christ’s incarnation. The whole divine plan is laid out symbolically in Gheertgen tot sint Jans’ Holy Kinship.

Anne’s role as an enabler is demonstrated by Leonardo in his Virgin and Child with Saint Anne. While Christ reaches for the lamb, the symbol of his coming sacrifice, Mary reaches out and tries to pull him away. Anne quietly restrains Mary from interfering with the plan.

This exhibit is dedicated to Mariagra Lamplight who died in November 1963 who collaborated on previous museum projects and was a loving grandmother.

A Christian and Buddhist Pilgrimage: John Bunyan’s Pilgrim Progress, illustrated by William Blake and the Gandavyuha, the pilgrimage of Sudhana. This is the first exhibit at the Bieup Annex of the Museum of Sacred and Narrative Art.

Both of these pilgrimages are metaphors for life ending in Salvation or Enlightenment. Pilgrim’s Progress was illustrated by many artists including William Blake whose work is the most significant. Blake only illustrated the first half which is the story of Christian’s journey. The second half concerns his wife Christiana who follows after with her children. Perhaps Blake did not live long enough to do that.

Much of Sudhana’s travels was illustrated on the large structure at Borobudur, Indonesia. Sudhana meets with 53 kalyāṇa-mittatā (wise advisors) or friends and gets advice at each step. His guide is Manjusri who leads him finally to Samantabhadra who leads him on the last few steps.

The exhibit presents illustrations for many of the encounters of the two pilgrims. Christians journey is dangerous and his life is on the line. Sudhana’s covers real distance as he travels from place to place. Each of the scenes illustrate teachings.

There was a period in Spain, under Muslim rule, when three religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism lived in harmony. They shared artists and inspired each other with their art, literature and philosophy. All of the Faiths benefited from the collaboration. Haggadahs, the text recited at Seders, were richly illustrated. Synagogues, like their Christian counterparts, borrowed elements from Moorish architecture. While most were lost or converted into churches later, some of the glory remains. Excerpts from poems and other writings are intermixed with images from architecture and manuscripts. There is a small section on other arts.