St. Joseph

At age 18 Jesus permitted Joseph to die. Some say Joseph couldn't bear what was to come.

The painting is thought to be by F. S. Shuman, an artist from Alexandria, VA, and hangs in the Basilica of St. Mary, founded in 1795 and located in Alexandria. It was the first Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia and West Virginia, one state territory until 1863. President George Washington, father of the country, made the first contribution, equivalent to $1,200 today, for the creation of a Catholic parish.
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• God the Father is missing. I think the artistic decision is a good one. The Almighty Father stepped aside momentarily to give Joseph his rightful place in death to honor his loving guidance in life. Joseph joined the others awaiting the salvific Crucifixion.

• Blue is the traditional color for Mary; red is the symbol of sacrifice; and because Joseph is of the royal house of David, an earthy gold is the color for him. Both Jesus and Joseph were celibate. Notice that the middle section of Jesus' clothing, or belt, is of a similar gold.
• Right hands and feet are pointed in the same direction, Jesus' hand a little larger for the nail and the ability to withstand it. Joseph's left hand depicts infirmity and loss of a carpenter's physical capacity that comes with old age.

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This painting is magnificent for the way Jesus looks at Joseph.
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