O Little Town of Bethlehem - art post

Artist, Paul McGehee, portrays a moonlit view of the ancient city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Even though McGehee is a contemporary artist who is creating paintings right now (link to FB), he pictures Bethlehem as it appeared in the 19^th century.

McGehee decided on a 19^th century look for Bethlehem as opposed to a current image or one from the 1^st century A.D. (Although, Bethlehem in the 21^st century really doesn’t look all that tremendously different from the 1^st century.) McGehee pictures Bethlehem in the 19^th century because that was when Rev. Phillips Brooks, the author of the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” visited the city. In 1865, Brooks went to the Holy Land and was especially impressed by a Christmas Eve service at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus’ birth.

Three years later, Brooks was in need of a Christmas song for the children’s service at his Episcopal church in Philadelphia. He wrote the song himself. For inspiration, he thought back to his experience in the Holy Land and wrote “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!” begin the lyrics. “Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.” The beautiful song continues by painting a word picture of peace and faith as seen through the eyes of one in the city of Bethlehem. The song is sung to this day and has become one of the classic Christmas carols of all time. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is faithfully reproduced as an archival-quality print from McGehee's original color pencil drawing.