All Saints Day, celebrated yesterday is also known as Hallowmas or Feast of All Saints. Occurring on November 1st of each year, it is a significant religious date in the calendar celebrated by Christians in memory of those who have died.
Despite the traditionally cold weather and melancholy that many people in northern climates may feel at this time of the year, this special day can warm the hearts of the faithful and give them a genuine opportunity to enjoy some incredibly beautiful paintings depicting those who died and sacrificed their lives for a higher good, or perhaps just some paintings of their forefathers whom they may want to share warming thoughts with. We would like to take you on a journey to All Saints Day in paintings.
One of my favorite images depicting the subject of sanctity is Saint Cecilia, by Giambattista Tiepolo. It shows true purity that can be found on this day in every aspect of the word!
All Saints Day (Le Jour des Morts ) by the French painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau is a truly representative neo-classical painting of this somber day, showing two women kneeling at a grave.
The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs probably painted by, a very famous piece that every art-lover is familiar with – also known as All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints or The Feast of All Saints is another example of All Saints Day in paintings. This piece shows rows of male martyrs and female saints.
All Saints’ Day by Emile Frian. This is how the French realist painter Emile Friant saw it. A bit dark, maybe also gloomy and portraying a fair amount of sorrow.
And last but not least, adding a colorful scent to the story – All Saints’ Day 1 by Wassily Kandinsky. The link to All Saints Day is a bit hard to spot in this abstract painting, but that’s what makes it fascinating!
