Soleil

The Hand of God:

Christianity had firmly taken root by the early Medieval period, but its adherents were still trying to bang out the details. While the Greeks and Romans had no qualms depicting their gods in the flesh, early Christianity and Judaism expressly forbade the practice. Artists, however, are gonna art and thus the Manus Dei emerged. Intended to metaphorically show God's influence and interference on mortal life, the Manus Dei was a reminder to believers that the invisible hand of God was involved in all they did.

During the 19th Century the Manus Dei found newfound popularity adorning gravestones. Holding scrolls and flowers, pouring oil into sacred lamps, the Manus Dei reminded mortals of not only the presence of God in life, but also in death.

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I've worked as a guide in a 19th century cemetery for many years, and am continually inspired by the integration of the graves with the natural landscape. Cemeteries were meant as gathering places for the living as well as the dead, and are considered by some historians to be America's first public parks.

Soleil

The Hand of God:

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