And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
Symbolism in A Damsel Came To Hearken
Like Rhoda, for whom the keys of the kingdom were knocking at the door, each of us has the opportunity to respond to Heaven's attempts to reach us in this fallen world. Sometimes the knocking and evening beckoning at the gate comes in answer to fervent prayer; at other times, it comes when we are not looking for it. The figure in the painting carries kindling for a fire. A fire is the best she can hope for in the darkness of the night with which her world is engulfed; however, calling to her at the gate is the presiding Apostle—the person possessing the keys of the kingdom of the Prince of Peace, the Light and the Life and the Truth of the world. Her response to the call determines whether she will have fire for a brief time (see Isaiah 50:11), or Light Everlasting.
Our greatest joy comes as we search diligently in the Light of Christ, hearken, and then run to share with others what we have discovered.
Also symbolic, is the absence of the horizon in the window, indicating the limitless potential if we heed the council of an Apostle.
Curatorial Details
Copyright and terms of use
© By Ashton 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.From the Newsroom
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...
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...
By Al R. Young
The New Testament Made Easier, published by Cedar Fort, featured five original oil paintings by Elspeth Young and one of Ashton Young's original oil paintings, all from Al Young Studios' Women of the Bible Fine Art Collection.Go Forth To Meet The BridegroomAnd Martha ServedAnd He Shall Direct Thy PathsShe Worketh Willingly With Her HandsEstablished In The FaithA Damsel Came To Hearken... Read more »
Tags: A Damsel Came To Hearken, And He Shall Direct Thy Paths, She Worketh Willingly With Her Hands, Established In The Faith, And Martha Served, Go Forth To Meet The Bridegroom, 3rd-party Publications, 2014, News
By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
At Home: A Personal Journal features 128 original artworks consisting of 51 original oil paintings from the Artists of Al Young Studios, 44 images from the Studios' Limited Editions Collection, nine pen and ink drawings and block prints by Ashton, seven of Al's exquisitely crafted pencil drawings, and one lithograph from his private portfolios... Read more »
Tags: North Shore, Nasturtium, Wald Kirche, Scabiosa, Foxglove, Narcissus on beige paper, July, Columbine, Maine, Final Draft, Unfurling, Back Shore, Summer's End, Gifts of Morn, Black-eyed Susan, Land's End, Solitude, The Limberlost, Perdita,
By Al R. Young Three artworks by the artists of Al Young Studios are featured in the 27th Annual Spiritual and Religious Art of Utah Exhibition. The exhibit is open to the public through January 18, 2013.
Elspeth's painting of Lydia received the Second Place Award for the exhibit.
Ashton's painting of Rhoda received an Award of Merit.
Hosted by the Springville Museum of Art, the juried exhibit features 166 art works selected from 318 works submitted.
Frames for the artworks were prepared by Al Young Studios... Read more »
Tags: We Heard Him Pray For Us, A Damsel Came To Hearken, She Worketh Willingly With Her Hands, 2012, Exhibits, News
By Al R. Young This blank-book journal sells for $32 (plus shipping) direct from Al Young Studios. Printed in full color on heavy paper, the book is bound with black plastic spiral to rest flat when open.
Inspirations features 163 artworks along with 53 commentaries—written by the Artists of Al Young Studios especially for this journal—on such topics as their creative process, the creative environment of the Studios, technical approaches to their artwork, and inspiration from the works of other artists... Read more »
Tags: Untitled, In the Clearing, Anne Girl, Spring Rain, Journey's End, Enchanted Stillness, Bedtime Story, In The High Valley, Mountain Home, And I Will Not Deny The Christ, Sara Crewe, And My Soul Hungered, 3.00.0246.010, The Road To Melek, We...
By Al R. Young Recorded interviews with Al, Ashton, and Elspeth are now part of the online venue for the Ninth International Art Competition sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Recorded last February, each interview accompanies the artists' paintings on display at the Church Museum in Salt Lake City, as well as the Internet site for the exhibit.... Read more »
Tags: The Miracle Of Forgiveness, A Damsel Came To Hearken, I Will Send Their Words Forth, 2012, Exhibits, News, Women of the Bible Art Collection
By Al R. Young Elspeth received a purchase award for her painting of Jacob (I Will Send Their Words Forth) and Ashton received an award of merit for his New Testament painting of Rhoda (A Damsel Came To Hearken) at an awards ceremony yesterday in Salt Lake City. Three pieces by Al, Ashton, and Elspeth hang in the center gallery on the second floor of the Museum's new "Make Known His Wonderful Works" Intentional Exhibit which was unveiled last evening.
The awards were part of the opening of the exhibit for the Ninth International Art Competition sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... Read more »
Tags: The Miracle Of Forgiveness, A Damsel Came To Hearken, I Will Send Their Words Forth, 2012, Exhibits, News
By Al R. Young Al, Elspeth, and Ashton spent this morning at the Church Motion Picture Studio. They were filmed for audiovisual commentaries to accompany the exhibit of their artworks in the Ninth International Art Competition. The exhibit opens March 16 at the Museum, and online the following day.... Read more »
Tags: The Miracle Of Forgiveness, A Damsel Came To Hearken, I Will Send Their Words Forth, 2012, Exhibits, News
By Al R. Young The 9th International Art Competition and exhibit, sponsored by the Church History Museum, will feature three oil paintings from artists of Al Young Studios. The exhibit opens Friday, March 16, 2012 and lasts through Sunday, October 14, 2012.
The original oil paintings to be included in the exhibition were selected from among 1,156 entries.
In 2009, the Eighth International Art Competition featured The Mother Of All Living, For Such A Time As This, and a stained glass window by Ashton Young... Read more »
Tags: The Miracle Of Forgiveness, A Damsel Came To Hearken, I Will Send Their Words Forth, 2012, Exhibits, News
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: A Damsel Came To Hearken, 2011, People and Stories of the Bible