Though some recent Biblical scholars dispute the nature of the purple dye Lydia was selling and, therefore, the social standing of this woman, the artist has chosen to depict Lydia as a woman of "means and social status" selling costly "Tyrian purple" coveted by the Roman elite (see Zondervan 383 and Klinckt 110). Lydia worked as a "seller of purple" in the Roman colony of Philippi, a place for Roman veterans (Zondervan 335). Symbolism in She Worketh Willingly With Her Hands Instead, she radiates the beauty which comes from faith, humility, and quiet selflessness.
Nothing about her is showy or ostentatious. The composition of the image invites the viewer to focus on her work, not herself. She is humbly looking to the "ways of her household," focused on the "fruit of her hands" (see Proverbs 31). She is, apparently, not even doing anything worthy of notice. Not only is she working, she is doing so without looking toward the viewer, not drawing attention to herself. Lydia's humility is evident in the composition of the painting. Surely, such is an apt description of Lydia, who was humbly prepared to receive the Lord's word through Paul and accept the ordinance of baptism. and.in a preparation to hear the word (Alma 32:6).blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe" (Alma 32:16). The Book of Mormon prophet, Alma, describes those, like Lydia, who are "truly. In addition to faith and industry, she evidenced humility through the "openness" of her heart (see Acts 16:14). She is not eating "the bread of idleness." She is working "willingly with her hands," hands which have stretched out in kindness to Paul and Luke, providing shelter for them, and, as inferred by Acts 6:40, for her fellow saints as well (see Thurston 124 and Massey 45). Therefore, the painting shows Lydia doing something. Lydia's faith is made active through her works. Both she and the Shunnamite (see 2 Kings chapter 4), are described as "constraining" God's servant to share her home, and then seeing to his needs and wants. Luke describes it in these words: "And when was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. Lydia shows her faith through her willingness to be baptized and through her gracious hospitality. The painting, therefore, seeks to visually combine the attributes of the "virtuous woman" and the Biblical heroine, Lydia. Surely such descriptions are apt for the disciple Lydia, whose "heart the Lord opened" (see Acts 16:14) to hear the word of the Lord, and whose household also accepted the gospel. Such a woman is extolled as one who "worketh willingly" with strength, provides for the needy, and clothes herself and her family with "silk and purple." She is wise, her "merchandise is good" and is "like the merchants' ships." She "maketh fine linen and selleth it" (see Proverbs 31).
Lydia, the first recorded European convert to Christianity (see Harper 586), is depicted in this image as a model of the "virtuous woman" described in Proverbs 31. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Her children arise up, and call her blessed her husband also, and he praiseth her.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Strength and honour are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry her clothing is silk and purple. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She is like the merchants' ships she bringeth her food from afar. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
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