Hands in Prayer / Study and Interpretation of details from
‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

 

Perhaps one of the most poignant sights in hospital, is that of the wound and bruise left by the peripheral venous catheter on the hand of the patient. One of the most disturbing sights for the artist when visiting his grandfather at hospital was precisely the PVC inserted in his fragile hands.

Sometimes they leaked blood and their position on his hand  uncannily resembled the perforation of the nails on the hand of Christ. Hands play crucial roles in hospitals, especially the hands of nurses and surgeons. The hands in prayer play an essential part in the journey of one’s sickness and healing, at least in the experience of believers.

 

Artwork comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.