??oman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. ~ John 20:15,16
In composing this painting, I had a picture in my mind of a bright morning light illuminating the Savior?? upper body as he reveals his identity to Mary. I wanted to symbolize the beautiful and tender moment where, as the light is dawning upon Him, it dawns upon Mary Magdalene that it is not the gardener she is talking to, but her Master and Savior. The lilies symbolize that there has been death but they also are beautiful - their springtime feeling representing hope and new life. In large reproductions of this you can see a tear on Mary?? face. Tears of sadness that at once turn to tears of joy. ~ Simon Dewey