Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Alexander Bogardy, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, ca. 1955-1970, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1990.97.3
Alexander Bogardy, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, ca. 1955-1970, oil on paperboard, 2030 in. (50.976.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1990.97.3

Artwork Details

Title
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Date
ca. 1955-1970
Dimensions
2030 in. (50.976.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on paperboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — God
  • Religion — angel
  • Religion — New Testament — Holy Trinity
  • Landscape — celestial — planet
  • Religion — New Testament — Holy Spirit
  • Religion — New Testament — Mary
  • Religion — New Testament — Christ
Object Number
1990.97.3

Artwork Description

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread shows Jesus, God, and a white dove next to a map of the world, surrounded by the heads of many angels. Part of an inscription on the back of the painting reads: ". . . Jesus is about to embrace the world but not wholeheartedly as the tears rolling down Jesus['s] cheeks indicate the disturbance throughout the world . . ." The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which God is releasing to "strengthen the weak and seekers of Mercy." Alexander Bogardy was a devout Catholic, and this image expresses his concerns with all the problems in the world. His message is not entirely serious, however, because he painted perfectly coiffed hairstyles on each of the floating angels!

Works by this artist (1036 items)

William H. Johnson, Young Pastry Cook, ca. 1928-1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.693
Young Pastry Cook
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
Portrait of a Man
Dateca. 1935-1938
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, For India and China, ca. 1944-1945, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.662
For India and China
Dateca. 1944-1945
oil on paperboard
On view