Agnus Dei
24” x 36” Oil and gold on wood panel
by Joshua Adam Risner
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This devotional oil painting by Joshua Adam Risner brings deep liturgical symbolism to life in a classical style, depicting the sacrificial Lamb resting bound upon a stone altar. The lamb’s pierced side reveals a subtle keyhole that directly mirrors the central cross on Mount Calvary in the background—a cross whose base is shaped as a key. This powerful visual connection signifies that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the true key that unlocks salvation, mercy, and eternal peace for humanity. Overhead, the Holy Spirit descends in radiant light, while the traditional prayer of the Agnus Dei is inscribed below, inviting the viewer into a space of quiet contemplation and prayer.