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
Copied Alexander Bogardy, Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, ca. 1955-1970, oil on paperboard, 20 x 30 in. (50.9 x 76.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1990.97.3

Artwork Details

Title
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Artist
Date
ca. 1955-1970
Location
Dimensions
20 x 30 in. (50.9 x 76.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on paperboard
Classifications
Highlights
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
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/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!