William Dyce (1806-1864), St. John Leading Home His Adopted Mother, c.1846, oil on canvas 14 1/2 x 12 3/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Thomas R. and Diane Stevenson Stone, 2008.
Born in Scotland and trained at the Royal Academy school in London, William Dyce often chose subjects that expressed his deep religious faith. In this highlight from the MOA collection, John, sometimes known as the “Apostle of Charity,” guides a grieved Mary away from Calvary, tenderly supporting her weakened frame. John is the only disciple recorded as attending the Savior during the ordeal of Crucifixion, at which time Christ committed His mother to John’s care. This painting is currently on display at the MOA in the exhibition To Magnify the Lord: Six Centuries of Art and Devotion.