All rights reserved.
Betsy Porter
Art and Iconography
ICONS BY LORETTA HOFFMANN
LORETTA HOFFMANN of Houston, TX

Loretta and I shared a table, as well as
mutual technical and artistic help, at a
Prosopon workshop in Austin, TX, March
2007.  We were painting an icon of Christ
Emmanuel, learning shell gold work.

Left; Saint John the Baptist
13 x 17 inches

Right; The Prophet Elijah in the
Desert, Fed by a Raven
13 x 17 inches
Our Lady of
the Sweet Kiss
7 x 9 inches, 2007
Christ Emmanuel
11 x 14 inches, 2007
The Image Not Made by Hands
(The Mandylion, The Holy Face) 12.5 x 12.5 inches
Christ Enthroned
7 x 9 inches, 2007
The Prophet Elias (Elijah)
9.5 x 12.5 inches
Our Lady Peligonitissa
(of the Playful Infant)
7 x 9 inches
The Guardian Angel
13 x 17 inches, 2005
The Evangelist Saint Mark
9.5 x 12.5 inches
Simeon the God-Receiver
7 x 9 inches
Read Loretta Hoffmann's icon blog, including her commentary on
several icons shown here, at www.heavenlywindows.blogspot.com
Mother of God of Tenderness
11 x 14 inches, 2008
Saint James the Greater
2008
Saint Cecilia
9.5 x 12.5 inches, 2008
ABOVE; ICONS BY LORETTA HOFFMANN 2009
The Holy Trinity; The Virgin Oranta; The Holy Face
13 x 17 inches; 11-1/2 x 13 inches; 11 x 14 inches

BELOW; ICONS BY LORETTA HOFFMANN 2010
Descent from the Cross; Mary at the Fountain (The Annunciation at the Well)
13 x 17 inches; 11 x 14 inches

Loretta Hoffmann writes:  Mary at the Fountain is considered an Annunciation icon (sometimes the fountain is
a well), representing the visit of Archangel Gabriel to Mary outside the Temple in which she was said to reside,
according to the Infancy Gospel of James.  This is considered the first angelic greeting to Mary regarding her
future, followed by the version with which most of us are familiar from Luke 1:28-38, where she responded,
"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

A note from Betsy Porter:  This icon is full of visual references to Mary's purity, fertility, and femininity:
the closed tower, the overflowing well, the leafy tree and nesting bird.