Portrait of the Son - (The Theological Virtues Trilogy) by Josephine Nobisso (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An allegory about The Holy Trinity, the role of Mary of Nazareth in Their divine designs, and the meaning of the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the centre of one's life. The richest man with the best art collection in the world shares his consuming interest with his superlatively good son, who is ably assisted in his benefiscence by their Kindly female estate keeper, who is more than mother to him. The son is called to war, and dies saving his comrades, mirroring the redemptive action of Christ's sacrifice for humanity. The father grieves his son, but is heartened when the estate keeper wheels in the chair of a wounded soldier from the foreign war. The young man presents the father with a portrait depicting the suffering son. As the soldier relates to the father all the insights the son has revealed about the art collection, which actually represents the created world, and especially, his great love for human beings, the pieces are transformed with potential and possibility for restoration to their intended ideal. The father decides to offer his art at auction, but stipulates that the first piece to be on the auction block is to be the portrait of the son. None of the learned bidders condescend to bid on the portrait, but a poor old man who had often been the recipient of the fathers and son's beneficence bids on it and wins. The auctioneer ends the auction, informing the irked would-be bidders that, according go the wishes of the father, the person who takes the portrait of his son wins his entire, vast collection"--

Book Synopsis

Here is a Christian allegorical story that treats of superlatives. The richest man in the world, with the most varied and treasured art collection in existence, begets the most wonderful son who, like himself, loves and appreciates every creation they possess. They relish entering the very worlds of their seascapes, landscapes, cityscapes and even abstract forms, but, most of al, they cherish their portraits, sharing in the very lives of their subjects. Under the father's solicitous eye, and with their motherly estate keeper's assistance, the exceptional son grows in wisdom and stature, extending his wealth to whomever wants it. What becomes of this son? And what later becomes of the treasures when the father decides to offer his immensely vast collection at auction? What superlative will be the most superlative of all? The man who wins the auction for the Portrait of the Son is in for the surprise of his life, and the would-be bidders witness a miracle of conversion. This is the long-awaited third volume in a trilogy of The Theological Virtues--faith, hope, and love--which began with THE WEIGHT OF A MASS, A Tale of Faith, and TAKE IT TO THE QUEEN, A Tale of Hope. Printed on the front and back underflaps are theological insights into the text and art of this story for all ages, for the true protagonists are the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the seen and unseen world of Creation, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Review Quotes

...Pack(ed)...with Roman Catholic references and allusions that readers may still be discovering after several readings (...the cover flaps explain them all). The illustrations use facial expression, body language, perspective, and the smudginess of their media to marvelous effect. --Kirkus Reviews

"A charming secular allegory that features a father and son with a deep bond, cultivated through art and oral storytelling." --Tracey Hodges, School Library Journal

"The books work magnificently well with young kids...but they are good for everyone, since under the flaps of the three hard and soft cover editions, you can find precise, inspiring theological insights into the art and text of the books." --Alejandro Bermudez, Exec Director Catholic News Agency

"I want to encourage each and every one of you to go ahead and order 10 copies of each of (The Theological Virtues Trilogy) books, and keep them ready on a shelf to give as gifts." --Dorothy Pilarski, Founder of Moms Groups, Midday Moms Podcast, Liaison to Toronto Diocese, frequent guest ETWN TV Network

"Soft, dreamy illustrations complement this parabolic tale about the rewards of love." --Foreword

"This is a book to be treasured and read, studied, and admired over and over again. It will delight both children and adults with its many layers of depth and meaning. This book is both a treat and a triumph." --Tim Drake, award-winning writer and former journalist and radio host with the National Catholic Register/EWTN

"This is such a beautiful and inspiring book with a moral, without ever being preachy. You bring children to these big theological ideas with such subtlety." --Danielle Bean, brand manager for CatholicMom.com, former publisher and editor-in-chief of Catholic Digest, creator and host of The Gist

About the Author

www.5sparrows.com Portrait of the Son marks Josephine Nobisso's 104th book, almost all of them for children, with several translated into various languages. (She, herself, is fluent in three languages, and conversant in four others.) Her work has won dozens of awards, and she has earned significant personal citations, the most recent being her investiture as "Honorary Dame" into the Order of Saint Michael of the Wing, a Roman Catholic, royal and dynastic order. The author has a special love for the arts, especially as they apply to picture books. Two of the only six original titles released by the publishing house she launched were short-listed for the Caldecott Medal. Throughout her 20's, Miss Nobisso acted as representative for an art gallery in New York City, placing original prints into private and major museum collections. A mentor to many writers, she spent 25 years presenting 100 author programs and writing workshops per year, in an innovative method she developed, and she published a landmark children's picture book, HOT CHA CHA!, which models myriad poetry styles, and includes an instructive essay with illustrative tips on the subject.