Discussion with artist Jon McNaughton regarding his new masterpiece "One Nation under God"
Well Jon, you've completed another masterpiece painting -- perhaps the most significant one you have ever done, and certainly one that it is very much needed for our day. Please give us your thoughts about the painting and what you want the viewer to come away with.
Interview_with_artist Christ is holding up the U.S.Constitution while behind him are the founding fathers and other patriotic heroes from the past two centuries speaking to us from the dust. They are asking us to remember the foundation of our country's greatness and the liberties defined under the constitution. The fact that Christ holds the Constitution is very significant. I believe it was a God inspired document. I believe God holds this country in the hollow of his hand. The Constitution gave Americans the kind of liberty unknown elsewhere in the world. I believe our country has been gradually weakened over the years, and we are reaching a tipping point. In the front of the painting, on the left side, are your strong Americans. On the other side are those who I believe have weakened the country. The painting is very symbolic, and I wanted it to be that way to cause people to study it and ponder its message. I hope people will understand my feelings as they learn more about the meaning of the painting.
Where did you get the inspiration for this painting?
It happened about a year ago. We were right in the middle of the 2008 elections. I was sitting in the gallery in front of my easel when I saw what I can best describe as a vision. I saw the painting in my mind as clear as if it were unveiled right in front of me, like standing before a stage when the curtains are slowly pulled back. I even had the name of the painting come to my mind. It hit me so hard that I knew I was supposed to paint it. I knew it would be one of the most difficult images I had ever endeavored to paint, but that it would be well worth it. Considering the time in which we live, I felt it definitely needed to be painted.
Tell us more about the painting and some of the more than 60 points of symbolism that are included. For instance, what about the tree on Christ's chest?
The tree represents the Tree of Life. It is a symbol of Jesus Christ or the love of God in Christian theology. I wanted to put some kind of symbol on the front of his robe that looked divine and had some symbolic meaning. When I did my research I couldn't find a tree of life symbol that I liked, so I designed my own. This design has many symbols within itself. The tree has seven branches representing the Seven Dispensations of Time. There are twelve fruit representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The center branch is the most fruitful to represent the Millennium. There are seven roots for the seven creative periods. The trunk has three parts representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Is there other symbolism in his clothing?
The symbols of Alpha and Omega are on His robe at the top on each side. They signify the beginning and the end or the first and the last. The robe has this olive branch design which goes up and down the hem. The olive branch is symbolic for peace. His sash is red to symbolize the blood spilt by millions of Americans in the name of God and country. There is actually ancient Hebrew writing on the sash from Psalms 33:12 which says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
How does an artist like yourself go about painting the image of Jesus Christ?
Painting the face of Christ is one of the most difficult things for an artist to do. People often have different thoughts about how he should look. As an artist, I look to create a symbol of the Man. It is most important that I capture the feeling of the Savior of the world more than try to create an anthropological version. I usually don't worry about whether His eyes were blue or brown or whatever. I wanted to create the strongest image of Christ I could paint that would be immediately recognizable and have the feeling I was looking for. In this painting, I wanted Him to look just as I saw Him in my vision. He had to look strong and yet have a sad countenance. He's looking off into the distance as if He sees our future and knows what is coming.
Is there anything else about Him you want to convey?
Yes, the scar in his hand is evidence that he is the one who died on the cross for the sins of the world.
Notice He is pointing at the U.S. Constitution. This strengthens the message of His divine support for the document. But if you look closer He could also be pointing at the little boy in the golden shirt. He represents the rising generation, the hope of America. But he is also pointing at the strong Americans in the front of the painting; the mother, the teacher, the serviceman, and others who represent the strength of this country. There is some deeper meaning there. If the liberties of our country are to survive it will take the effort of all of us.
There are a lot of famous people behind the Savior and the Constitution. How many are there and how did you determine who would be in the painting?
There are over forty patriots behind the Constitution. About eleven of them are former presidents. They are all people who have died, but did something to strengthen our country. It wasn't easy to decide who to put in there. There were many names to consider. I think I ended up with all but one of the people I saw in my mind originally. Everyone has opinions about this, and I know until the day I die somebody will say, "Why did you put this person in and not that person? I can't worry about it. Collectively, they represent the patriotic heroes of the past speaking to you and me from the dust. If you look below them you can actually see low hanging dust at their feet.
Is there any significance to the way the sky is painted?
I wanted a sky that would be dramatic and add to the mood of the painting. I liked the idea of a low sun, but have the light behind Christ, almost like a halo. The observer when viewing the painting is facing east which is where the sun rises in the morning, symbolizing the beginning of a new day. Or as it says in Matthew 24:27, "For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of man be."

Notice how the clouds start to clear on both sides to reveal a night sky with stars. These stars represent the fifty states of the Union. Not all stars are as bright as others.
What are the buildings in the background?
On the left is the Federal Capitol building, and on the right is the U.S. Supreme Court building. They symbolize the Legislative and judicial branches of our government.
I like the way the windows are all lit up
Many of the windows are black or dimly lit to represent the waning of the cause of liberty among many of the elected officials and appointed judges in our country.
You certainly are making a strong political statement in this painting. Tell us more about the people in the painting.
I'll start on the right side and describe who these different patriots are.

First is George Washington. He was the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war and the first President of the United States. They called him the "Father of his country", and at his funeral it was said, "he was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." It seemed appropriate to have him standing the closest to Christ.

Kneeling in front of Washington is of course Abraham Lincoln. He was the 16th President of the United States. I needed to have some of the figures kneeling to add to the feeling of pleading to us from the dust. I think it is good Lincoln is kneeling because he was 6'4" and he would have thrown the painting out of balance. Thank you for kneeling Mr. Lincoln. I sure love his face.

Then, there is John Adams, the second President of the United States. He is regarded as one of the most influential of the founding fathers. He played a leading role in persuading Congress to adopt the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776. He was part of the committee of five that drafted the original Declaration of Independence. He died July 4th 1826, 50 years to the day he signed the Declaration of Independence. His last words were often quoted, "Thomas Jefferson survives." Adams was unaware that his friend had died that same day only a few hours earlier—amazing.

Next to him is Alexander Hamilton. He was one of the founding fathers, who co-wrote the Federalist Papers.

On the edge is Teddy Roosevelt. I think the edge is a good place to put him. I actually took him out at one point because I thought he was too liberal for a painting like this, but I felt his positive influence on the country was too important to leave him out. Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He was a great naturalist and established many of the national parks. His face is alongside Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore. He was a great hunter, author, soldier and explorer. He believed in a strong Federal government, but I don't believe he would do anything to weaken the country he considered the greatest in the world.

There is an F-16 pilot. The soldiers in the painting are nameless and represent all who have served our country, many at the cost of their lives in order to preserve our freedoms. We owe them a great debt of gratitude and a determination to preserve the freedoms they fought for. There are seven soldiers standing behind the Constitution, representing the major conflicts this country has been involved in.

Next is Fisher Ames. He is considered one of the greatest advocates of a free society in American history, one of the greatest orators for the cause of liberty in the early years of our country. He spoke often of the dangers to American liberty as if he saw our day.

And then, John Quincy Adams. He served as the 6th President of the United States. You can see him standing behind his mother Abigail Adams. They were the first father and son presidents. It didn't happen again until George W. Bush. After John Quincy Adams was president he returned to practicing law where he fought for the rights of African slaves who had seized control of a slave ship where they were being transferred illegally. He won their case in the Supreme Court and they were allowed to be free citizens in the United States. He never charged them for his services on the case.

Next to him is Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams. She was very intelligent and is remembered for her many letters written to her husband during the First Continental Congress. It is obvious to see how many of these great men had equally great wives at their side. She was an advocate for women's rights especially in the field of education. She was also a strong voice against slavery--truly a great woman.

Behind Abigail is John Jay. He was one of the founding fathers. He was also the first Chief Justice of the United States and that's why he is standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building. He co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and was a leading opponent of slavery.

Then, Paul Revere. He was a great patriot during the Revolutionary War. Famous for his midnight ride, "the British are coming!" He stands in front of a window, "One if by land, two if by sea." One light is showing.

Everyone recognizes Ronald Reagan. He was the 40th President of the United States. Reagan had to be in the painting. He truly believed in the greatness of America and that God was leading his actions. A true patriot of freedom -- he was one of my favorite presidents.

John F. Kennedy also stands out -- he was the 35th President of the United States. He was an advocate of the Civil Rights Movement and helped us develop our space program until he was tragically assassinated in 1963. He was famous for saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He certainly had some skeletons in his closet, but I believe was an advocate for American's freedom.

Patrick Henry is right under the American Flag. He is remembered for his, "Give me Liberty or give me death" speech and is one of the founding fathers of our country. Along with Samuel Adams and Thomas Payne, he is remembered as one of the most influential of the Revolutionary War. He was influential in adopting the Bill of Rights to greater protect American's freedoms.

Samuel Adams next to Patrick Henry. He is one of the Founding Fathers and leaders of the American Revolution. He was a cousin of John Adams.

Behind General Washington is one of my favorite American heroes, Nathan Hale. Hale was a spy for the Continental Army who was first to be caught and executed by the British. His last words were, "My only regret is that I have only one life to give for my country."

The present-day American soldier is one of my favorites in the painting. He is a modern 101st Airborne Infantry soldier. He is African American, and you'll notice the name patch on his body armor reads, "KING." I actually had Martin Luther King painted here first, but of copyright issues, I chose to put in a black soldier instead, with the same last name as a tribute to the leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
It's a shame that he isn't in the painting – he was a great proponent for equal rights and peaceful demonstrations and really belongs in the painting.
Directly behind the Constitution stands James Madison. He was the 4th President of the United States. The main author of the US Constitution and is often referred to as the, "Father of the Constitution." and the "Father of the Bill of Rights." Madison's most distinctive belief was the new republic needed checks and balances to protect individual rights from tyranny of the majority.

Next to Madison is his wife Dolly Madison. During the War of 1812 she saved a chest containing rare documents, perhaps the original declaration and Madison's notes on the constitutional convention. She was a distinguished and brave woman.

Next stands Thomas Jefferson. He is holding the Declaration of Independence. The third President of the United States, he is one of the most influential of the Founding Fathers. The Declaration of Independence was critical to the development of the U.S. Constitution for its assertion of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as a fundamental right.

Behind Jefferson on the right is Robert Livingston. He was one of the Committee of Five who helped Jefferson draft the Declaration of Independence.

Directly behind Jefferson on the left is George Wythe. He was the first professor of law in America and a signor of the Declaration of Independence. He was also Thomas Jefferson's mentor. He was considered a great scholar in America. He was also a strong opponent of slavery in America.

Then, there is Roger Sherman, who was also on the committee of five and served as a representative and senator in the new republic.

You will remember Christa McAuliffe. She is the school teacher from New Hampshire who as an astronaut was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger 73 seconds after it took off. I thought she embodied a lot of heroism and would represent those in the space program who have sacrificed for the country.

Next to her is Benjamin Rush. He was a signor of the Declaration of Independence and attended the First Continental Congress. He was famous as a physician during the Revolutionary war.

Next to him is Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 34th President of the United States. He was a five star general in the U.S. Army during WWII and supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe. I like IKE.

Benjamin Franklin stands out. Of course, he is one of the founding fathers, and was a diplomat to France during the Revolutionary war. He was a prominent Abolitionist and is known for his writing and experiments.

Behind him is a black Civil War soldier, symbolic of their role in that great struggle. He looks a little like Denzel Washington!

Susan B. Anthony played a major role in the women's rights movement. She fought for women's suffrage and gave 75-100 speeches a year on women's rights for 45 years.

Next to her is Davy Crockett, who was know as, "King of the wild frontier." He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the Texas Revolution dying in the battle of the Alamo.

Then, there is Frederick Douglas, a famous Abolitionist and fighter for women's suffrage, a great fighter for freedom and equal rights for everyone.

Next is Clara Barton. She was called the "angel of the battlefield" during the Civil War. She organized the American Red Cross and was involved in Women's rights and black civil rights. She knew Susan B. Anthony.

Behind her is Ulysses S. Grant, General of the Union Army who led the North to victory in the Civil War and 18th President of the United States.

Next to him is Harriet Tubman. She was an abolitionist and Union spy during the Civil War. She made over thirteen missions to rescue over seventy slaves in the underground railroad. A devout Christian.

Then, there is Thomas Payne. He is famous for writing the pamphlets, "Common Sense," which sparked patriotism during the Revolutionary war. He was also an Abolistionist.

Next to him is Sequoyah. He was the first American Indian to put their native language into a written form. Later in 1905 the Indian Nation in current Oklahoma had the Sequoyah Convention named after him where they created a constitution similar to the U.S. Constitution to try for statehood.

And, John Hancock is at the edge of the painting. He was president of the Second Continental Congress and the first governor of Massachusetts. He was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and is famous for his big signature. He was popular with the people, but not with other politicians. I figured he'd want to be in the painting.
Tell us a little bit more about the various soldiers that are in the painting.
What I tried to do is have a succession of soldiers that goes on for five generations. It starts with the Revolutionary soldier who fought to free us from the tyranny of Great Britain. Then there is the Union Civil War soldier.
Why does he have his hands over his face?
He feels the anguish of this terrible conflict. This is the only war in American history where American fought against American and brother against brother. Hopefully it will never happen again.

Then there is the soldier that represents the WWI and WWII conflicts. His uniform is similar to that worn by Korean War and Vietnam War soldiers, so in my mind he also symbolizes the soldiers who served and died in those wars as well. The Marine soldier up front completes the five generations of soldiers who have fought and sacrificed for our country. If you count the possibility of the little boy, that's six! The sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services are immeasurable to our country's freedom.
We truly owe them a debt of gratitude. Who are all these people in the front?
These people are symbolic of different types of living Americans. On the left side, are those standing on the right hand of God. They are your strong, patriotic, hard working Americans – the real backbone of our country. Notice how all these great Americans are looking at Christ, but the Americans on the right side are mostly preoccupied.
Tell us more about who these people represent – start with the ones on the left.
First is the woman representing the mother figure. She holds her hand out which has two meanings. First she is recognizing Christ and second she is releasing her son to come forth and touch the Constitution. A mother's role in raising up and nurturing the next generation is immeasurable. She is holding a handicapped child on her lap. I will explain more about the significance of this when I touch on something else happening in another part of the painting.

Behind the mother is a Latino Elementary School teacher. She holds some school books in her arms. Those who teach our youth also have a great responsibility in shaping their lives.

Next is the Marine. I was so excited to put him in the painting. He looks sharp in his dress uniform with his clutched hand over his heart. Often you see a Marine like this at the burial of a fallen serviceman. The flag under his arm also is symbolic. They carefully fold the flag thirteen times and the last fold which shows the stars represents, "In God We Trust." This goes all the way back to George Washington.
He looks really sharp. Who is next to him?
That is a college student. He is holding some books under his arm. The book on top is one that I believe every American should read because it describes the principles on which this nation was founded and the greatness of our founding fathers. It's called "The Five Thousand Year Leap" by Cleon Skousen. It was written, I think, in the seventies. It explains that if it had not been for the founding fathers and how they set up our Constitution we could not have created the environment to allow for the great advances of the modern world. We literally went from hoes and shovels to placing a man on the moon, and we took a five thousand year leap in human development. Truly these men were inspired!
I have read that book and agree with you -- we have a great heritage! Who are the other people?
There is your family doctor. I wanted someone who was a professional sort of career person and our family's pediatrician seemed perfect. Below him is career woman. Women have made great gains in obtaining equal rights with men and are filling prominent positions in all walks of life. The next figure represents an Asian immigrant. Our country is made of all kinds of people from all ethnicities – in reality, all of us are immigrants.
Why does he have his hand up like that?
There are many good people in America, they are not all Christian. I wanted him to have a look of shock when he realizes where the source of America's greatness comes from as he sees Christ holding the Constitution. We live in a country were we are free to worship as we please. There are those that wish that fundamental right did not exist and have gone to great lengths to make a bigger separation of Church and state.

This person represents a devoted Christian or even a Christian minister. He lovingly holds his Bible as he gazes on his Lord. If you look closely he has a hearing aid in his ear. I thought how even if we can't hear sounds well, everyone who follows Christ can hear the whisperings of the Holy Spirit guiding them in their lives. I think many Americans are hearing those whisperings today in regards to the situation of our country. I believe it was those whisperings that led to the need I felt to do this painting.

This man is a farmer. Originally I wanted to have sweat on his back and real rough and bloody hands. He represents the backbone of America. I couldn't get that effect with the backlighting, but I think you get the idea.
OK, now I imagine from the look of things that the "bad boys" are on the right side of the painting. Tell us about them.
Yes, these people represent types of individuals who I believe have weakened our country. The Founding Fathers are focusing their pleadings in their direction. They are all preoccupied with something and not looking to Christ.

First is the Supreme Court Judge. Not any judge specifically. He has his hands in his face because he feels remorse for the damage he has done to the country. At his feet are spread out different pieces of paper which symbolize some of the more notorious court cases over the years.
There is actually writing on the papers.
Yes, the first one on the top is Marbury v. Madison which essentially started it all. This case opened the door for judicial review of the constitution and made it possible for activist judges to become appointed and be able to interpret the constitution.

This is Martin v. Hunter Losee, it gave the Supreme court ultimate authority over state courts in matters of Federal law.

This is Gibbons v. Ogden, which gave congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Everson v. Board of Education. This case opened the door for the big separationist drive by the courts to create the separation of church and state. It was the beginning of removal of prayer from the schools and other removals of God from America.

Roe v. Wade., here is right at the knees of the judge. This is one of the most tragic of cases passed by the Supreme Court. There have been over 45 million abortions performed in America since 1973. There were about 16 million Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust. How does God look at these numbers? If we can't protect the rights of the unborn child where are we headed? I know this is not an issue many want to deal with, but I felt it had to be addressed in this painting.

Right behind the judge is a young pregnant mother. She is pointing at the mother with the handicapped child and she is saying, "I want to keep my baby." She represents hope. Both she and the judge are demonstrating a sense of repentance whereas the others, well we'll get to them.

Notice the judges watch? The time is 11:59 PM. The hour is late and His coming is nigh. It means there is little time left.
Who is guy next to the judge?
He represents a corrupt politician. He's on his cell phone, not paying attention. He has his patriotic tie and American flag lapel pin, but he's more concerned about his own political ambitions than what is in the best interest of the country. I'm afraid there is too much of this in Washington today. There needs to be a change. It will only happen if the American people rise up and demand it.

Next to him is a liberal professor. He tightly holds his "Origin of Species" book by Charles Darwin. This represents the liberal lefts control of our educational system. His smug expression describes the attitude of many of the educational elite. There is no room for God in education. There is contempt for any other viewpoints. When I was painting this figure a young man commented to me, "I've read that book, does that mean I'm going to Hell?" --of course not. I've read it too. It should be read and discussed in the classroom along with all ideas and theories. Humanism dominates the educational system of America and I believe that is wrong. Notice that he is the only one sitting on the top step. He tries to place himself on an equal footing with God, but he is still nothing next to the intelligence of the creator.

Then there is a Liberal news media reporter. You can sure see the bias in the news media these days. I don't believe they reflect the sentiments of most Americans. She holds the microphone up to the pregnant woman as if to ask her, "Will you keep the baby?"

This is a greedy lawyer counting his money. No, not all lawyers are like this, but there certainly an element of the system which has made room for corruption. He could also stand for Wall Street or the Banking System. He lovingly is counting his hundred dollar bills.

Next is Mr. Hollywood. He represents the entertainment business in America. It is very apparent that there is a liberal slant with Hollywood. He looks down at the judge and pregnant woman with ridicule and amusement.

Over his soldier is the shadowy form of a hooded figure. This is Satan. He whispers into the ears of all those who will listen to his lies. I felt that having a painting with Christ in this manner demanded that a symbolic figure of his nemesis would be appropriate.
This painting is truly amazing. I don't recall seeing anything like it before. It certainly makes a powerful statement. How many figures are in the painting?
There are over sixty figures.
How long did it take you to paint it?
I started the preparatory work, with the research which took about six months and then it took about four months to complete it. I knew I would have one shot at this and that it had to be right.

It's been over 230 years since the founding of our country. I believe in the greatness of America and I know that God is the source of its greatness. We are at the tipping point now in history and I hope and pray that this painting will be a conversation point among many people; that they can reflect and ponder its meaning. We must return to the principles of freedom under the Constitution and recognize God as the source of these blessings.
This may truly be the most important new painting of the twenty first century.

For more information go to mcnaughtonart.com