Christ blesses the children

We still do not know many details about the life of M. Bučinskis, but his work can be recognised by his individual style and the pattern in his portrayal of figures. He had a workshop in Kaunas, and was undoubtedly popular with his clients. He left an impressive number of works in Lithuanian churches: at least several series of the Stations of the Cross, many altar pictures, pictures for portable altars and banners. His composition Christ blesses the children stands out in the context of Lithuanian religious art. There are not many portrayals of this subject, but they conform well to the image of the Good Shepherd emphasised by the Catholic Church at the end of the 19th century. During that period, a number of socially influenced images of Christ were formed or revived: He was portrayed in everyday surroundings familiar to believers, communicating with children, labourers or the poor. However, the Church discouraged placing such images on altars, so they were usually hung on the walls in churches or elsewhere, or distributed as prints or illustrations in publications. Their purpose was not to represent, but to remind, tell and teach.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)

We still do not know many details about the life of M. Bučinskis, but his work can be recognised by his individual style and the pattern in his portrayal of figures. He had a workshop in Kaunas, and was undoubtedly popular with his clients. He left an impressive number of works in Lithuanian churches: at least several series of the Stations of the Cross, many altar pictures, pictures for portable altars and banners. His composition Christ blesses the children stands out in the context of Lithuanian religious art. There are not many portrayals of this subject, but they conform well to the image of the Good Shepherd emphasised by the Catholic Church at the end of the 19th century. During that period, a number of socially influenced images of Christ were formed or revived: He was portrayed in everyday surroundings familiar to believers, communicating with children, labourers or the poor. However, the Church discouraged placing such images on altars, so they were usually hung on the walls in churches or elsewhere, or distributed as prints or illustrations in publications. Their purpose was not to represent, but to remind, tell and teach.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)