Widows and Orphans in Cathedral Art

Artworks at Washington National Cathedral contain a great many portrayals of “the least among us” in metal, glass, wood, stone, fiber, and other materials. Here are a few highlights of art that treats the stories of widows and orphans as subject matter.

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1. The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain

The raising of the son of the widow of Nain is the subject of a ceiling boss that shows Jesus performing a miracle. The boss is one of many stones that represent ideas found in the Nicene and Apostles’ creeds. These creedal boss stones span the ridgeline of the Cathedral nave. This particular stone is located in the sixth bay of the Cathedral nave, which represents the phrase “the resurrection of the body.” John Earley was the artist of this boss, which was carved by Andrei Sichi and Italo Fanfani and installed in 1931. It represents the following verses:

Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

—Luke 7:11–17 (NRSV)