Murillo was a Spanish Baroque painter who lived in Seville during the 17th century. He is especially famous for his paintings of the Virgin and Child and the Immaculate Conception. The present painting, The Two Trinities, is on a similar theme since both the Virgin and the Child are included. As the title suggests, there are two Trinities depicted in this painting. One is the Blessed Trinity and the other is the Holy Family. God the Father is looking down from Heaven upon His Son, and between the two of them is the Holy Spirit Who hovers over the Son’s head. To the left of Jesus is His mother Mary and to the right is His foster father St. Joseph. It is clear that Murillo wished Jesus to be the focus of the painting since He is the link that draws the two Trinities together.
This painting also seems to be a fitting representation of Mary’s relationship to the Blessed Trinity, for she holds her Son’s hand while her spouse the Holy Spirit hovers above and the Father looks down upon them all. We will honor Mary’s relation to the
Blessed Trinity this Thursday, March 7th, when we celebrate here at the college the Solemnity of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.
