Austrian Sacred Heart – Ornate Dark Framed Art

In this Austrian image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lord’s left hand holds his heart – flaming, pierced, bleeding, and shining forth with brilliant light – while his right hand gently gestures toward it, revealing his nail-pierced palm. Jesus’ sweet expression is one of love and compassion as he makes direct eye contact with the viewer. The unknown Austrian artist who painted this image was likely a devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or Herz Jesu, not only because of the intensely spiritual composition of the painting, but also because the powerful devotion of the people of Austria is well-known and quite storied. In 1796, threatened with invasion by the French army of Napoleon, Political leaders and town representatives from across the small Austrian state of Tyrol gathered together and consecrated their land to the Herz Jesu. The Austrian people then showed their devotion by lighting fires in the shape of the Herz Jesu across the grassy slop