This Art Guide video is to be used at Step 3: Contemplation of Columban Visio Divina - A resource to help you pray using the images and Art Guide of the 2022 Columban Art Calendar.
St Augustine and his mother, St Monica, Oil on canvas (detail), 1846 by Ary Scheffer (National Gallery of London).
Ary Scheffer (1795–1858) was a Dutch-French painter of the 19th century who worked during the Romantic era. His work was characterised by a focus on spirituality and the individual, mystery, melancholy, and an idealisation of women. Scheffer’s painting is based on an event recounted by St Augustine of Hippo in his famous Confessions (Ch. 10 “The Vision of Ostia”) after his baptism into the Roman Church in AD 387. Augustine recalled sitting with his mother, Monica, shortly before her death and discussing the nature of the soul and eternal life. The setting is Ostia, Italy, in a house overlooking the river Tiber, indicated by the soft horizon where the water meets the sky. St Monica, dressed austerely in a white robe and veil and with the pallor of grave illness, is depicted as the prayerful instrument of her son’s reformation and awakening to God. Both turn their gaze towards a singular focus of illumination in the sky as the kingdom of Heaven.
Augustine’s acclaimed Confessions poignantly explains his life of pleasure which he ultimately deemed empty and pointless. His seeking of the presence of God and divine transformation from sinner to saint is to a large extent attributed to the diligent prayers of his mother, Monica. She was also canonised for her efforts.
After his conversion and baptism, Augustine became a priest, teacher and finally Bishop of Hippo in AD 396. He remained in this office until he died in 430. St Augustine is acclaimed as one of the four Doctors of the Catholic Church.
