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| The Virgin of the Dry Tree, Petrus Christus, c. 1465. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. |
The tree is dead, all thorns and bare limbs, and Our Lady stands in it holding the Christ Child, as if she had grown there. The Thyssen-Bornemisza ties the work to the Confraternity of Our Lady of the Dry Tree, to which Christus and his wife belonged.
This is what I received in my inbox after signing up for Advent with the Masters. Beginning the first Sunday of Advent, this free program delivers one of the Church’s great paintings each morning through Christmas, chosen by the liturgical calendar and captioned only from the holding museum’s own record.
This looks like a lovely way to begin each day and I'm looking forward to what Advent will bring to my in-box!
