World War II Triptychs:

Triptych 136, Christ with Arms Outstretched. Photograph in Citizens Committee for the Army, Navy, and Air Force Records, 1940-1945. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

Hildreth Meière’s Triptych 136 depicts Christ with Arms Outstretched in the center panel. A border along the top of the three panels is decorated with grapes and grape leaves.The two side panels bear the inscriptions: I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NOT HUNGER AND HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST.

Triptych 136 was at Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, New York from 1943 to 1946. It was sent to the Veterans Administration in Canandaigua, New York in 1949. From 1950 to 1958, it was with the Veterans Administration in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and finally in 1973, the triptych was given to St. John’s Church in Little Silver, New Jersey by the original donor Mary M. Ryan.

This history of the triptych and name of the original donor were painted in gold on the verso:

Verso of Triptych 136 with triptych history and name of donor