The Dominican Family under Mary’s Mantle

Giclée print of a watercolor painting by Thoma Swanson, op.

Mary holds open her mantle at the request of Dominic who has been looking all over heaven for his brothers and sisters. He finds that Mary is sheltering the whole Dominican family, old and new. Dominic has made his way to Mary’s left,praying his rosary and carrying the Gospel of Matthew. Next to him Catherine of Siena ponders her most recent letter to the pope, while Pius the V, wearing his papal crown, contemplates the scene. Thomas Aquinas is offering Mary his Summa Theologica as Albert the Great urges him forward. Below Thomas is Hyacinth of Poland carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

Next to Pius is an Asian sister, and below her an African friar who represent the vocations that are God’s gift to those who carry out Jesus’ command to preach the Gospel to all nations. At the bottom right, under the mantle, is Jane of Aza, Dominic’s mother, and accompanying her with his torch, is the famous dog of her dreams. The sister graduate with her diploma demonstrates the continuing dedication of Dominicans to study and learning. At the front is Margaret of Castillo who attained sanctity as a Dominican after her parents abandoned her because of her blindness and physical deformity.

On the left side of Mary, with the boat, is Vincent of Valverde, a Spaniard who sailed to Peru as chaplain with the soldiers of the conquest and heroically tried to save the Indians from the conquerors. Below him is Rose of Lima with a basket of food for the poor. Her Peruvian contemporary, Martin de Porres, is gathering herbal medicines while his animal friends look on. Below Martin is his friend and contemporary, Juan Macías, whose burro knows his way through the tangled streets of Lima to the homes of the poor.

Behind Rose is Fra Angelico holding his palette, and behind him, those dear friends of Dominic, Diana and Ceclia. The smiling blonde is a contemporary Dominican sister who somehow got into the back row. Below them, wearing familiar veils, are two of the foundresses of American Dominican Congregations. Behind them is Bartolomé de las Casas protecting the indigenous Americans from their oppressors. Below him are contemporary members of the Dominican family: a couple with their baby, and other Dominicans making use of advanced technology to preach the word of God and to record this heavenly event.

This describes the watercolor painting in De Porres Center, St. Mary of the Springs, Columbus, Ohio, and the giclée prints made from this painting.

Prints of this watercolor painting are available
in three sizes: 22 x 30” 19 x 26" and 13 x 22”.