Joseph and Jesus Resting
Jean Joseph Benjamin Constant (1845-1902)

What makes this one of our favorite pictures of Joseph we've ever seen is that it shows Joseph and Jesus together in a wonderful, father-son way. Almost all the pictures we see of Joseph and Jesus have Joseph holding the infant Jesus in his arms, or Jesus standing next to Joseph, learning how to be a carpenter while Joseph focuses on the wood. But in this picture, the work is done; they are relaxed and resting, together in the afternoon sun. We don't know if we've seen another painting where there is clearly a deep, loving relationship between Joseph and Jesus.

Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant (1845-1902) was a French painter who relocated to Spain after the Franco-Prussian war. He became know primarily as an "Orientalist" painter, meaning he did subjects set in locations east or south of Europe, exotic in their day for the European public. But occasionally he would do a religious-themed picture, and we have not seen one he did that we like better. (source: christies.com)

The picture hangs in the church of Saint-Martin de Villers sur mer, on the west wall of the south transept, next to the large stained-glass window dedicated to Saint Joseph, completed in 1878. (source: en.indeauville.fr)

** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", 1.6" for 11x14" pictures, or 1.75" for 13x17" , 16x20", 18x24" and 24x36". Inquire about special printing needs. Not much needs to be trimmed of the art to go to the edge on this print. Border sizes are Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.

- 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.

Thanks for your interest!
Sue & John

"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.