… lost and found, doomed and saved, scattered and gathered …

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Luke 15:1-10

Lost Coin

FETTI, Domenico

between 1618-1622

Gemäldegaleri

Dresden

Germany

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20160910380310058&code=ACT&RC=54793&Row=4

The poor woman of the gospel parable has turned everything she owns out and over seeking the lost coin by the feeble light of a flickering oil lamp. The gigantic, formless shadows the small flame casts seem to express the enormity of her search, a metaphor for the fervent, heartfelt concern for the straying sinner that Jesus describes.

This version of the painting was executed by Fetti's workshop.

http://www.wga.hu/html_m/f/feti/parable1.html