New Paintings
"The Prayer of Hannah"
(With the Birth of Shmuel and Early Life of David)
By Barbara Mendes
Details of the Painting below:
This painting revels in the stories found in the
Biblical Book Shmuel Aleph, or Samuel I. The book
begins with the story of Hannah and her famous
prayer, and goes on to tell of the Prophet Shmuel,
King Shaul and King David.
The narrative begins in the inner circle around
the Queenly central figure. We see Hannah, the
childless wife of Elkenon, whose other wife Penina
does have children, and taunts Hannah. The family
goes up to Shilo to bring sacrifices to the Mishkan,
(or Tabernacle). Hannah is very sad, and goes to
the entrance to the Mishkan, where the High Priest
Eli is sitting. Hannah prays to Hashem (G*d) and
promises that if she has a son she will dedicate
him to Hashem. Her lips move as she prays, and
she weeps. Eli the High Priest acuses her of being
drunk, but when she explains that she is praying
for a child, he tells her that her wish will be
granted. She goes home with a new look of happiness,
and that year gives birth to a son, Shmuel. After
Shmuel is weaned, Hannah brings him to the High
Priest to serve Hashem. Then she exults in her
famous prayer, the Prayer of Hannah.
In the
painting, the dress of the the central figure
contains all the lines from “the Prayer
of Hannah”. Hannah says that her heart exults in
Hashem and her mouth is open wide against her enemies,
that Hashem is a Rock, and that one should not
be haughty because Hashem raises up and Hashem
lowers down. Other favorite lines you can see in
the lower dress are: the bow of the mighty is broken
while the humble are girded with strength, a barren
woman gives birth to seven while the mother of
many becomes bereft, Hashem gives life and also
death, He lowers in the grave and rises up. The
humble will be lifted up from the trash heap to
sit with the nobles. The paths of the righteous
are lit, while the wicked are stilled in darkness.
The narrative of the painting continues in the
two rows of small circles surrounding the large
inner circle. These circles continue the story
with Shmuel as a Prophet annointing first King
Shaul, and later the shepherd David. When Shaul
is depressed, David is summoned to play the harp
for him. The giant Goliath threatens, and David
slays him. Shaul's son Jonathan likes David very
much and gives him his armor and clothing. David
has great successes in battle and is much loved:
Shaul becomes jealous, and tries to kill him. Jonathan
reminds Shaul of David's good services, and once
again David plays the harp for the King, and also
continues to win many battles. Shaul again hurls
his spear at David- this time David escapes. His
wife (Shaul's daughter) hides him and helps him
escape. David seeks out Shmuel the Prophet. King
Shaul learns this and follows in persuit. When
he reaches Shmuel the Prophet, he begins prophesizing
with all the prophets, and David escapes. David
meets Jonathan in a field and they arrange a signal
to let David know if the King still wants him killed.
(This is the Haftorah for Rosh Hodesh) David and
Jonathan part in the field. David goes to the Mishkan
for a sword and some food, and receives the sword
of Goliath and the holy bread. This is the last
small circle. Behind the large central figure,
inside the big circle, we see King Shaul and his
army chasing through the forest after David and
his followers.
It is from Hannah that we learn to pray the Amidah
silently, with our lips moving.
The Queenly dress and crown I've given the large
central Hannah in my painting is symbolic of the
glory and beauty of her story and her Prayer.
See
Collecting Art and Work
in Progress for more paintings
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