Sunset Sower Artwork by Van Gogh Showcased in Pope Leo's Initial General Address
In a captivating discourse touching upon art and faith, Pope Leo XIV delved into the symbolic significance of Dutch Post-Impressionist Vincent van Gogh's renowned painting, "The Sower at Sunset." The Chicago native's speech was centered around the artwork displayed at the Vatican Museums— an esteemed collection under the pope's jurisdiction as Supreme Pontiff.
Speaking on Wednesday, the pope illuminated the celestial scene depicted in the painting. He highlighted van Gogh's choice to portray a setting sun casting golden light upon a field, revealing a background with the grain already ripe. This detail, he suggested, symbolizes hope and potential growth even in challenging circumstances.
Throughout his career, van Gogh often returned to pastoral landscapes to capture the interplay of sunlight and shadow over fields and farmers. His work, notably, followed the example he found in the 1850 painting "The Sower" by Jean-François Millet—a piece van Gogh greatly admired.
One of van Gogh's seminal works featuring a setting sun marks a turning point in the artist's series, as he shifted away from muted hues of blue, violet, and gray to depict the radiant orb as the central focus. This imagery echoes the parable of the sower, a story shared by Jesus in the New Testament, where a farmer encounters various soil types and searches tirelessly to find fertile ground for his crops to grow.
Pope Leo XIV posited that the sun, depicted as a vast orb occupying much of the horizon, was central to this narrative. The painting, he concluded, serves as a reminder of the enduring presence and guidance of God during life's journey. Furthermore, the pope emphasized that parables such as this one compel the audience to question and seek deeper meanings, rather than settling for appearances alone.
Looking to the horizon of van Gogh's career, Pope Leo XIV observed that the painter's persistent pursuit of symbolic imagery mirrored the universal longing for spiritual fulfillment and connection with the divine.
In discussing the remarks of Pope Leo XIV, it is worth noting that the Vatican Museums, under his leadership, will continue to oversee one of the world's oldest and most prestigious art collections. Comprising treasures of Renaissance and Baroque painting and sculpture, alongside pieces by modern artists such as Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso, the museums also include world heritage sites like the Raphael Rooms.
With Pope Francis' death in April 2022, Pope Leo XIV takes the helm amid an unusually rich legacy in the arts compared to many modern pontiffs. During Pope Francis' tenure, he made headlines at the 2024 Venice Biennale, visiting the exhibition's Holy See Pavilion and opening a historic dialogue about the restitution of colonial-era artifacts. Under his guidance, three fragments of the Parthenon sculptures were also returned to Greece, bringing closure to a 200-year chapter in theVatican Museums' collection.
- Pope Leo XIV's discourse on Van Gogh's "The Sower at Sunset" at the Vatican Museums highlighted the celestial scene's symbolism of hope and growth in difficult times, which resonates with the parable of the sower found in the New Testament.
- Van Gogh's use of a setting sun as the central focus in his seminal works echoes the parable of the sower, reflecting his persistent pursuit of spiritual themes.
- The Vatican Museums, under Pope Leo XIV's leadership, not only oversee an ancient and esteemed collection of art, including works by Renaissance, Baroque, and modern artists, but also serve as world heritage sites such as the Raphael Rooms.
- As Pope Leo XIV takes over following Pope Francis' death in 2022, he inherits an unusually rich legacy in the arts, which includes his previous contributions, like his visit to the 2024 Venice Biennale and the restitution of colonial-era artifacts.
