Christmas 2024: Free Shipping on nearly every product! Giclée canvas prints ordered by November 29th and all other orders placed by December 11th should arrive before Christmas.


Martha, Martha by Elspeth Young

“Martha, Martha”


{ Martha }
Pre-mounted Giclées on canvas (gatorboard)
High-grade canvas artwork reproductions pre-mounted to durable gatorboard for easy framing without glass.
12" x 15"$133.0014" x 18"$175.0018" x 22.5"$264.00
12" x 16"$140.0016" x 20"$215.0018" x 24"$280.00
Giclées on canvas (unmounted canvas roll)
Larger rolled canvas prints with a 2-inch margin for the customer to mount the print to stretcher bars at a local framing store or art center. No glass needed.
20" x 24"$228.0020" x 25"$236.0024" x 30"$328.00
Paper prints
High-grade art reproductions available on photo paper (in sizes 12x18 and larger) or on high-quality 9pt (100#) paper. Combined shipping available for most smaller sizes.
16" x 20"$73.0018" x 24"$93.0020" x 24"$100.0024" x 30"$143.00
Other products
Other options including the original artwork, bookmarks, and limited edition prints.
Original oil painting$11,454.00
or
You may click on a print size to see a preview of it.

† These prints show the entire painting. All other images are cropped to fit standard frame/print sizes. By purchasing a print, you agree to accept the image shipped to you whether cropped or not, as presented on this site. All print sizes link to a preview of the print. Print sizes are the image dimensions, not the dimensions of the paper.

And Jesus answered and saith unto her, Martha Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful...

Luke 10:41-42

The story behind Martha, Martha

Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, and disciple of Christ, is here depicted as cumbered by the work she has at hand in preparing and serving at a feast.  Martha is worried, perhaps even overwhelmed by her endeavors.  In the painting she is surrounded by light, representing the Savior’s presence (John 1:4, 9), and yet she feels alone and discouraged.  Answers and solutions to her burden surround her, but Martha must make the conscious choice to choose the Savior.  The painting represents the choice we must all make to "cast (our) burden(s) upon the Lord" (Psalms 55:22).

Symbolism in Martha, Martha

The archway outside the open courtyard represents the tomb in which Lazarus was buried later in the story of Mary and Martha.  The viewer sees the archway from a distance (i.e. one point perspective has been used to create depth) and this is meant to represent an eternal perspective.  Knowing this, the viewer sees that Martha has, in the stress of the moment, turned her back on this eternal perspective because she is distracted by the tasks at hand. The stark lighting represents the light from the Savior (John 1:4).  Because Martha is only partially in the light, it represents the choice she must make to step fully into the peace or "rest" the Savior can offer her (Matthew 11:28).

All the elements in the work besides the figure represent the Savior and His ability to aid Martha with her burdens, if she will but chose to let Him. The Savior fed 5,000 using a small offering of loaves and fishes (see Matt 14:16-21, Mark 6:33-44, Luke 9:11-17, John 5-14).  These fish (tilapia) and loaves on Martha’s table represent the same kind of "offering" of self that Martha has the opportunity to make, and the ability of the Savior to multiply it and make it enough, if she desires it.  Also fish are a Byzantine representation of the Savior. The Savior declared himself "the bread of life" (John 6:35). Pomegranates in the basket were used as decorative motifs in Solomon’s temple and on Aaron’s ephod. Martha’s jug she carries is similar to the jug the woman at the well carries in Elspeth’s painting, Living Water and here, as in that work, represents the living water the Savior offers all who come unto Him (John 4:14).
© By Elspeth Young, All Rights Reserved. You may not print, copy, or reproduce this artwork or make derivative works from it without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. For permissions, please review our FAQ page.

See more art from the Women of the Bible Art Collection

See more art from the Messiah Art Collection

Request permission to use this painting in publication or presentation

From the Newsroom


Custom framing services for original artworks and giclees (overview)

By Al R. Young
only high-end custom frames
We have framed our own artworks for more than 30 years, and during that time we have provided a variety of framing services to patrons upon request.  For many reasons—including constant changes in the availability of moulding styles—we cannot offer off-the-shelf framing options or response times typically associated with such a service.  Of necessity, all of our framing projects are aproached, priced, and billed as constuling projects... Read more »

Tags: Into The West, Spring Rain, North Country, The Grey Havens, Journey's End, Looking Back, Enchanted Stillness, Bedtime Story, In The High Valley, The Daydream, Before The Ball, Old Shannon, Pavane, Sweet Brier, Legend, Mountain Home, And I...


Women of the New Testament by Camille Fronk Olson features illustrations from Al Young Studios

By Al R. Young Women of the New Testament by Camille Fronk Olson is the companion volume to Women of the Old Testament, published by Deseret Book in 2009.

The New Testament volume features fifty six illustrations from the Artists of Al Young Studios, listed here under the Studios' fine art collections and portfolios to which they belong.


From the Women of the Bible Fine Art CollectionFull-color details (cropped images) from the following 29 paintings appeared in the book (in the order in which they appear here)... Read more »

Tags: I Shall Be Whole, I Say Unto Thee, Arise, The Windows Of Heaven, The Miracle Of Forgiveness, What Is Truth, Under Whose Wings Thou Art Come To Trust, Unto The City Of David, A Damsel Came To Hearken, By The Wayside, Living Water, Waiting...


And Martha Served by Elspeth Young featured on CD cover

By Al R. Young The New Testament on Women, published by Deseret Book, featured Martha, Martha, by Elspeth Young, on the cover.  The painting is part of Al Young Studios' Women of the Bible Fine Art Collection.... Read more »

Tags: Martha, Martha, 3rd-party Publications, 2007, News


Gift book features Elspeth's painting of Martha

By Al R. Young Mary, Martha and Me, published by Deseret Book, featured Martha, Martha, by Elspeth Young.  The painting is part of Al Young Studios' Women of the Bible Fine Art Collection.... Read more »

Tags: Martha, Martha, 3rd-party Publications, 2005, News


Illustration: Martha, Martha

By Al R. Young
High-resolution digital copies are available from the Studios for use as illustrations.  Use the serial number—appearing below the thumbnail—in requesting permission from the Studios (see links at the bottom of this page for detail).


The correct form of attribution when publishing an image is specified in the license agreement issued to the publisher by Al Young Studios.Guidelines for requests to copy or publish artworks created by the Artists of Al Young Studios

Guidelines for commissioning Al Young Studios to create illustrations
Return to this portfolio
Browse all portfolios
Browse Newsroom articles about Illustration
The original image is available for sale, please contact us for details... Read more »

Tags: Martha, Martha, 2005, People and Stories of the Bible


Elspeth C. Young completes new oil painting - "Martha, Martha"

By Al R. Young Martha, Martha is the newest oil painting to be added to the line of original artworks from Al Young Studios.

Click here to see a larger image of the new painting, read the artist's commentary, and look at the selection of prints--if any are available.... Read more »

Tags: Martha, Martha, 2005, Elspeth C. Young, Legacy, News, Oil paintings and prints, The Messiah Art Collection, Women of the Bible Art Collection