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Catalog Data

Artist:
Alexander Bogardy, born Hungary 1901-died Washington, DC 1992  Search this
Medium:
oil on paperboard
Dimensions:
20 x 30 in. (50.9 x 76.3 cm.)
Type:
Painting
Folk Art
Date:
ca. 1955-1970
Luce Center Label:
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread shows Jesus, God, and a white dove next to a map of the world, surrounded by the heads of many angels. Part of an inscription on the back of the painting reads: ". . . Jesus is about to embrace the world but not wholeheartedly as the tears rolling down Jesus['s] cheeks indicate the disturbance throughout the world . . ." The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which God is releasing to "strengthen the weak and seekers of Mercy." Alexander Bogardy was a devout Catholic, and this image expresses his concerns with all the problems in the world. His message is not entirely serious, however, because he painted perfectly coiffed hairstyles on each of the floating angels!
Luce Object Quote:
"All my work is done for God." The artist, quoted in Margaret Parsons and Marsha Orgeron, "Alexander Bogardy, Singular Pursuits," Folk Art, Spring/Summer 2004
Topic:
Religion\New Testament\Christ  Search this
Religion\New Testament\Mary  Search this
Religion\New Testament\Holy Spirit  Search this
Landscape\celestial\planet  Search this
Religion\New Testament\Holy Trinity  Search this
Religion\angel  Search this
Religion\God  Search this
Credit Line:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist
Object number:
1990.97.3
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department:
Painting and Sculpture
On View:
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1st Floor, West Wing
Data Source:
Smithsonian American Art Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk726efe0eb-0c19-4029-a022-29a0ca79a661
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:saam_1990.97.3