By (James) Jacques-Joseph Tissot, French, 1836-1902. Opaque watercolour over graphite on paper.15.2 x 24.4 cms. Brooklyn Museum New York.
Chromolithograph from “La Vie de Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ . . . . avec des notes et des dessins explicatifs par J. James Tissot” 1896-97.
Picture Stories from the Bible 
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed…” (Ps 103)
LikeLike
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the Earth…”
We are all poor begging lepers before God and his heavenly kingdom ! We should cut off all of our extremities to be not contaminated, like the leppers should. But we can not ! We are poor and helpless !
The Death of the Poor
“It’s Death that comforts us, alas! and makes us live;
It is the goal of life; it is the only hope
Which, like an elixir, makes us inebriate
And gives us the courage to march until evening;
Through the storm and the snow and the hoar-frost
It is the vibrant light on our black horizon;
It is the famous inn inscribed upon the book,
Where one can eat, and sleep, and take his rest;
It’s an Angel who holds in his magnetic hands
Sleep and the gift of ecstatic dreams
And who makes the beds for the poor, naked people;
It’s the glory of the gods, the mystic granary,
It is the poor man’s purse, his ancient fatherland,
It is the portal opening on unknown Skies!”
LikeLike