We love this Nativity, painted around 1910 by two Benedictine monks, Revs. Bonaventure Ostendarp & Raphael Pfister based on a German original. We love its colors and clarity, its unique composition, and its abiding calm. Notice how the infant Jesus is the main source of light in this picture. Notice how Mary is on her throne and Joseph stands by, always protecting, while the kings of the earth bow before the Lord.

This art is not just pretty; it's meant to help with worship and prayer. It is from the Beuron art school (pronounced BOY ron), developed by German Benedictine monks in the mid-19th Century to bring beautiful liturgical art to the faithful as an aid to their devotional life. Their idealized art is one of our absolute favorites. Its beauty touches us with its spiritual intensity. (source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online)

Available as Christmas cards in this store.

The print is really sharp, and the colors are rich. We had to do extensive restoration of this image because of all the damage done when it was scraped off the wall of the church it was in originally. Although the original painting is long out of copyright, our restoration work is copyrighted.

We print it on special art paper with archival quality pigments, rated to last for many generations without fading when kept out of the direct sun.

- 8.5 x 11" acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

** IMPORTANT ** There is about an inch-and-a-third of white space around the picture, more on top and bottom, so the image is smaller than the paper.


Thanks!
Sue & John

You might also enjoy original Catholic Art and Jewerly by me, Sue Kouma Johnson, here on Etsy at www.Etsy.com/shop/TreeOfHeaven
Also, check out our Catholic Quote shop, where we are pairing authentic quotes from Saints with Art: www.Etsy.com/shop/CatholicQuote

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic Art.