Children Singing and Praying, 1858

Children Singing and Praying http://www.allartclassic.com/subj_pictures_zoom.php?p_number=&p=&number=WAF040&stt=&forder=1

Glowing painting
The composition of this glowing painting is grouped around a loving mother cuddling her little one, and an image of the Son of God. The children are at prayer, and singing. Anyone who has been a part of a prayer group in a family as a small child will recognise the elements here; the responsible elder sister, neatly braided hair. The baby, adored by all, cuddled on mom's lap. The child in the centre looking into the heart of what is possibly the lamp while Mom's attention is on baby. The devoutly singing little one in the back row. The little girl, deep in the mystery of God reaching out to her in her tender years, with fingers clasped looking on the image of the One Who sacrificed His Life to save us all. And, lurking and looking through the window, either a brother who naughtily ducked family prayer, or a neighbour intrigued at the prayerful exercise.

Autumnal leaf colours
 Waldmüller's oil brushwork is glowing, probably multilayered to achieve this effect. The colours range from soft buttercream whites, through ambers, to autumnal leaf colours. The glow of light appears to emanate from the source in the centre of the group, behind the nearest girl's head. Waldmüller beautifully juxtaposes the lamp glow from a deep gold throwing shadows on the central child, fading out into the daylight spilling in through the window. Daylight throws the windowpane shadows onto the inner window frame, while a small bowl at the edge provides a beautiful and detailed counterpoint to the composition. A beautiful image of the joy of prayer, "The Family that Prays Together, Stays Together".

Reproduction Available
World Classic Gallery offers a reproduction of the luminous oil on canvas painting of the Academic Classicist Painter, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. 
Waldmüller was an Austrian painter and writer of the Biedermeier period. In 1807, Waldmüller atttended the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. Thereafter, in 1811, he worked as a Teacher of the Arts for the children of Count Gyulay in Croatia. Thereafter, Waldmüller studied portrait painting after returning to the Academy of Vienna.

Why not purchase a beautiful and prayerful image for your home?

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Georg_Waldm%C3%BCller

With thanks to Allartclassic and Wikipedia