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Hens and her Brood, a Peacock, all disturbed by the arrival of a Falcon,
Painted by Melchior d’Hondecoeter (1636-1695),
Executed late 17th century,
Oil on canvas
© Sotheby’s Sale, 4 December 2013, lot 37 |
Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’ |
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| Reflection on the Painting
Melchior de Hondecoeter was a Dutch painter who specialised in depicting birds of all types. Here we see, apart from the central figure of the peacock, a hen protecting her brood at the arrival of a falcon which comes flying in. The little chicks are scared and run off in all directions. The words in today’s Gospel ‘as a hen gathers her brood under her wings’, reminded me of this painting. Look how protective the hen is towards her little ones, all under the watchful eye of the peacock. Early Christians adopted the symbol of the peacock to represent eternal life, as an ancient legend told that the flesh of the peacock did not decay. It is also directly linked with the resurrection of Christ because the birds sheds it old feathers every year and grows, newer, brighter ones each year... Anyway, back to our hens for now...
The quote regarding the hens, has to be put in context first. Jesus has just returned to Jerusalem for the last time, in the realisation that He is to be arrested and crucified. Jesus wants to gather the people in Jerusalem into His love and protection - ‘under his wing’, just like a hen does with her brood. It is this ‘sheltering’ love that Jesus wants to convey here. Come close to Him and He will protect you. In our painting we see the little chicks playing without a care in the world, but the falcon (cunning ‘fox-like’ Herod as Jesus calls him in our reading) comes flying in and the hen is seen immediately wanting to protect her brood. So it goes with Jesus, He wants to protect us, to shelter us, to care for us… But it is ultimately only we who can decide wether we want to live under His protection or not… it is us who decide wether we want to be under His sacred care in every aspect of our lives…
by Patrick van der Vorst |  | |
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