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ARARAT
Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches, 1986
(Private collection, Allentown, Pennsylvania)
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The idea for this painting came as a request from its current owner, who wanted to see how the author would render the story of Noah. Without the top section of the painting, which shows the ark, Noah, and a few animals, it would have been difficult to determine the topic of this painting. Of course, the most important elements in the composition are the facial features of the mountain and the rhythm created by the trees' leaves and branches--a reference to our planet as a "living" organism. The blue water of the sea, the islands, the whales, as well as various animals and birds scattered around the mountain and perching in the trees enrich the composition and act as a reminder that even though the God of the Hebrew Bible had threatened to annihilate all creation, His mercy and love of living things made it impossible. There are even two dinosaurs, adding a whimsical note to the picture. One of the enlargements below reveals the artist's signature on the mountain's face.
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