Classic Art on This Site

TL;DR:
Judeo-Christian themes have profoundly shaped Western art for centuries. Follow the links to pages featuring works that illustrate the interplay of Bible and art while enriching the site's content.

Masterpieces that stir emotions and speak to our souls

Through the centuries, artists and sculptors have drawn extensively on Judeo-Christian subjects and themes to create works that have profoundly shaped the visual and cultural heritages. From the biblical scenes depicted in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes to the lifelike marble statues of saints and apostles by Bernini, Judeo-Christian narratives have provided rich material for artistic expression. These works have illustrated stories from both the Old and New Testaments, conveyed theological truths, and celebrated key figures such as Moses, the prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus Christ..

Stained glass windows, paintings, mosaics, and carved cathedral facades have brought these sacred stories to life for believers. They have served as both decoration and teaching tools in an age when many could not read the Scriptures. Even in the modern era, Judeo-Christian imagery continues to inspire creativity, symbolizing moral ideals and spiritual hope. The more than three dozen images used on the pages of this website demonstrate the enduring influence of the Bible on Western art. More than that, I hope they reflect and enhance the content of the pages on which they appear.

These masterpieces, including the photos included below, can speak into the depths of our souls and stir our emotions. I hope you will let that happen to you.

More than 60 Art Masterpieces Reflecting Webpage Content

  1. "Abraham's Counsel to Sarai," by James Tissot
  2. "Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1," by Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing
  3. "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God), by Francisco de Zurbarán
  4. "Ansgar Preaching", by Gustaf Cederström
  5. "The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds," by Thomas Cole
  6. "The Apostle Paul," by Rembrandt
  7. "The Beheading of St. James," by Philip Galle
  8. "The Calling of St. Matthew" by Giovanni Lanfranco
  9. "Christ on the Sea of Galilee," by Peter Paul Rubens
  10. "Christ's Prophecy of the End of the World," by Frans Hogenberg
  11. "Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts," by Matthäus Merian
  12. "Devotions at Home," by Elisabeth Baumann
  13. "Divine Service in the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, A.D. 50," unknown
  14. Easter: "The Holy Women at Christ's Tomb," by Annibale Carracci
  15. Elder brother — illustration of Luke 15 by Jim Padgett
  16. "Ezra Kneels in Prayer (Ezr. 9:1-15)," Doré's English Bible,
  17. "Ezekiel Cuts Off His Beard and Hair and Burns It," by unknown
  18. "Feeding the Poor," by Wilhelm Gause
  19. "The Great Commission," stained glass window in El Paso, TX
  20. "He created dry land, the seas and plants," woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
  21. "The Huns at the Battle of Chalons," by A. De Neuville
  22. Indulgence seller at work, anonymous
  23. "Isaiah" by Nicolò Barabino
  24. "Jesus and Zacchaeus," by Niels Larsen Stevns
  25. "Jesus Sends Out 70 Disciples," anonymous
  26. "Jewish Temple — The Soul of Jerusalem," by Alex Levin
  27. "John the Baptist pointing to Jesus" by Matthias Grünewald
  28. "John the evangelist" by Lippo Memmi
  29. John on the Isle of Patmos, anonymous
  30. "Job and His Friends" by Gustave Doré
  31. "Jonah Preaches to the Ninevites," from Ridpath's Universal History, Book Third
  32. "Light of the Lamb," mosaic on church building
  33. "The Lord's Prayer," by James Tissot
  34. "Lost Sheep," by Adolf Wagner von der Mühl
  35. "The Merchants Chased from the Temple," by James Tissot
  36. "Missionary preaching in a kukui grove in Hawai'i," by Alfred T. Agate
  37. "Moses before the burning bush," by Gebhard Fugel
  38. "Moses Confronts Pharoah," Holman Bible Illustrators
  39. "Moses Leads the Exodus" by Jim Padgett
  40. "My Shepherd," painting on a ceiling in St. Callixtus catacomb outside Rome
  41. "Onesimus returns to Philemon with Paul's letter in his hands," by an unknown Medievcal period artist
  42. "Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt," by unknown artist
  43. "The Passion of Creation," by Leonid Pasternak
  44. "Pentecost" by Titian
  45. "Peter denies that he is one of Jesus' disciples," by Gustave Doré
  46. "Preaching to Natives on the lava at Kokukano, Hawai'i," sketch by William Ellis
  47. "Prophet Nahum," by James Tissot
  48. "Prophets and Kings of the Old Testament Adoring the Name of Jehovah" by Nicolas Bertin
  49. "Reading the Bible," by Gerrit Dou
  50. "The Reapers," by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
  51. "Saint Ambrose," by Rutilio di Lorenzo Manetti
  52. "Saint Paul" by Guercino
  53. "Saint Paul Writing His Epistles" by Valentin de Boulogne
  54. "Samuel Annoints David" by François-Léon Benouville
  55. Satan — detail in "The Last Judgment" by Jacob de Backer
  56. "The Sermon of the Beatitudes," by James Tissot
  57. "Still Life with a Bible," by Vincent van Gogh
  58. "The Temptation of Christ," by Juan de Flandes
  59. "The Ten Commandments," Providence Lithograph Company card
  60. "The Twelve Minor Prophets," marble relief in Orvieto, Italy
  61. "Unisphere" designed by Gilmore David Clarke
  62. "Young Samuel Hears God's Voice," Providence Lithograph Company card
  63. "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog," by Caspar David Friedrich
  64. "William Carey Translating the Bible" by Arthur Grosvenor Daniels

Photos and Maps on this Site

  1. 1040 Window and Circle of Significance, map
  2. Abrham's travels, map
  3. Bible maps worksheet
  4. Canaan, strategic land bridge, map
  5. Church of the Nazarene global administratrive regions, map
  6. Corinth: Stone columns of an ancient temple, photo
  7. Collage of people worshipping in various religions, photo
  8. Eckert 4 projection of the global made with natural earth data
  9. Earth's City Lights, photo
  10. Ephesus: Facade of the ancient library building, photo
  11. Palestine map worksheet (OT locations)
  12. Palestine map worksheet (NT locations)
  13. Philippi: Ancient ruins in Greece, photo
  14. Religions of the world, map
  15. The World from My Perspective, maps
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
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