Art.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4: 15.



The Ancient of Days.
William Blake.
The British Museum, London.



Blake's painting depicts God crouching in a ball of fiery light, His hair and whiskers streaming to the left as though blown by the wind. He is reaching down and has spread His fingers from which lines of light extend as a compass.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38: 1 - 7







The Fall of Man.
Hendrick Goltzius.
The National Gallery of Art.



Goltzius' painting shows Adam and Eve reclining at the base of a tree. Eve has already eaten of the forbidden fruit and is offering a bite to Adam. Her eyes are slightly averted and directed upwards as though thinking ahead to the future. Adam is gazing into her eyes with trust and love, though he reveals some apprehension in the set of his mouth.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Genesis 3: 18 - 20





The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.
Benjamin West.
The National Gallery of Art.



West shows the angel pushing Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. Adam has his hand over his face, but a downturned corner of his mouth is visible conveying a sense of mortification. Eve is holding his arm but has fallen to one knee. She is staring upwards as though in shock and has apparently been weeping.

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 3: 23 - 24





Abraham and Melchisedech.
School of Rafael.
In the Loggia di Raffaello, Vatican City.



The King of Salem and the patriarch Abraham meet behind baskets and amphoras.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14: 18 - 20





Ecce Ancilla Domini.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
The WebMuseum, Paris.



Rossetti has flames on the feet of the angel as he gestures reassuringly to Mary who has recoiled in fright on her cot.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1: 28 - 33





The Nativity.
Frederico Barocci.
Museo del Prado.



Barocci has Jesus in the manger, His face shining. Mary is adoring Him and Joseph is pointing back at them as he greets the shepherds at the door.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2: 4 - 7





Christ and Saint John with Angels.
Peter Paul Rubens.
The Wilton House at Wiltshire, U.K.



Rubens shows the infant cousins Jesus and John with baby angels.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke 1: 11 - 17





The Boy Jesus with the Doctors.
Harry Anderson.
From the book The Desire of Ages.



Anderson shows the learned rabbis stroking their whiskers as they thoughtfully weigh the point the boy Jesus is making as He sits in their midst.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Matthew 2: 9 - 12





The Baptism of Jesus.
From Greg Webb's Homepage.



Jesus and John are holding onto each other as friends as they both do God's Will.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3: 13 - 17





The Calling of Saint Matthew.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.



Caravaggio shows Jesus pointing languidly, almost sleepily, toward Matthew. Peter is also gesturing toward Matthew and looking back at Jesus as though to check if He's sure about this. Matthew is pointing to his own chest with a surprised look on his face.

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Mark 2: 13 - 14









Christ at the Sea of Galilee.
Jacopo Tintoretto.
The National Gallery of Art.



Tintoretto shows Jesus walking on the sea as Peter climbs out of the boat to go to Him.

And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

John 6: 16 - 20





The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
The National Gallery of Art.



Murillo has the prodigal son kneeling before his father as he bends over to pull his son up to his feet. A puppy is jumping on the boy's knee. In the back we see the older brother looking on wryly, like he has something to say.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Luke 15: 20 - 24





The Last Supper.
William Blake.
The National Gallery of Art.



Blake has Jesus blessing the disciples while Judas has turned away and is counting his silver.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

Mark 14: 16 - 19





Christ Carrying the Cross.
Hieronymus Bosch.
Musee des Beaux-Arts, Ghent, Belgium.



Bosch shows Jesus and His cross in the midst of a crowd of diabolical twisted faces..

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

John 19: 16 - 17











White Crucifixion.
Marc Chagall.
The Art Institute of Chicago.



Chagall shows the crucifixion in the midst of scenes from the future of people not knowing what they are doing.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke 23: 34 - 38





Descent from the Cross.
Rembrandt van Rijn.
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg.



Rembrandt has Joseph of Arimathaea holding Jesus' body as a man on a ladder pulls the nail from His left hand.

Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

Mark 15: 43 - 46





Resurrection.
Piero della Francesca.
Museo Civico, Sansepolcro.



Jesus rises from the dead as the temple guard sleeps.

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Luke 24: 6 - 7











Supper at Emmaus.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
National Gallery, London.



Caravaggio depicts the instant before Jesus vanished from the table at Emmaus. The others are reacting in shocked recognition.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Luke 24: 28 - 31





The 26 Martyrs.
Scanned from a travel brochure and posted on The 26 Martyrs website.



This painting depicts the 1597 crucifixion of 26 faithful Christians in Nagasaki.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Revelation 6: 9 - 10







Here is a list of links to galleries both virtual and actual.

The WebMuseum, Paris.
And the world!

The National Gallery of Art.
In Washington D.C.

Masterworks of the Vatican.
20 Renaissance images.

Jesus Christ-Images, Art and Photographs.
Over 440 images.

Jim's Fine Art Collection.
Hundreds of Images.

The Biblical Arts Center.
In Dallas, Texas.

Museum Of Contemporary Religious Art.
At St. Louis University.

The Pre-Raphaelite Collection.
From the U.K.

Art History Resources on the Web.
From Sweet Briar College - Excellent!

Virtual Tours.
Of museums, exhibits and more.

The Ecole Initiative Index of Images.
The motherload, listed by subject.

The OmniList of Christian Art.
Many good links.

Christian Graphics Gallery.
Lots of links to Clip Art.

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