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.

Painter sitting in front of an easel painting something on a large canvas
"Young Painter in His Studio," oil on oak wood by Barent Fabritius, c. 1655 | (Image source)

More classic art masterpieces used as illustrations

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 this curated group reflects and enhances the content of the pages on which the various pieces appear.

These masterpieces, including the photos and maps 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 90 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. "Apple Harvest at Éragny" by Camille Pissarro
  8. "The Beheading of St. James," by Philip Galle
  9. "Bowing" by R. and K. Wood
  10. "The Calling of St. Matthew" by Giovanni Lanfranco
  11. "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" by Vasily Perov
  12. "Christ on the Sea of Galilee," by Peter Paul Rubens
  13. "Christ Walking on the Sea," by Amédée Varin
  14. "Christ's Prophecy of the End of the World," by Frans Hogenberg
  15. "Construction of the Temple of Solomon," by Jan Luyken
  16. "Daniel's Answer to the King," by Briton Rivière
  17. "Daniel Interprets the Writing on the Wall," by Gustave Doré
  18. "Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts," by Matthäus Merian
  19. "Devotions at Home," by Elisabeth Baumann
  20. "Divine Service in the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, A.D. 50," unknown
  21. Easter: "The Holy Women at Christ's Tomb," by Annibale Carracci
  22. Elder brother — illustration of Luke 15 by Jim Padgett
  23. "Ezra Kneels in Prayer (Ezr. 9:1-15)," Doré's English Bible,
  24. "Ezekiel Cuts Off His Beard and Hair and Burns It," by unknown
  25. "Feeding the Multitude," mosaic by unknown
  26. "Feeding the Poor," by Wilhelm Gause
  27. "The Four Evangelists," by Jacob Jordaens
  28. God Gives the Law Tables to Moses," anonymous
  29. Good Samaritan Parable," by Giacomo Conti
  30. "The Great Commission," stained glass window in El Paso, TX
  31. "He created dry land, the seas and plants," woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
  32. "Herod Antipas," by Hartmann Schedel
  33. "The Huns at the Battle of Chalons," by A. De Neuville
  34. "I am the door of the sheep" by Andrey Mironov
  35. Indulgence seller at work, anonymous
  36. "Isaiah" by Nicolò Barabino
  37. "Israelite Exodus from Egypt," by Jan Luyken
  38. "Jeremiah being put in stocks by the priest Pashur," unknown
  39. "Jesus and Zacchaeus," by Niels Larsen Stevns
  40. "Jesus preaching on the Sea of ​​Galilee" by Jacob Willemszoon de Wetx
  41. "Jesus Sends Out 70 Disciples," anonymous
  42. "Jewish Temple — The Soul of Jerusalem," by Alex Levin
  43. "Job and His Friends" by Ilya Repin
  44. "John the Baptist pointing to Jesus" by Matthias Grünewald
  45. "John the evangelist" by Lippo Memmi
  46. "John the evangelist at Patmos" by Francesco Granacci
  47. John on the Isle of Patmos, anonymous
  48. "Jonah Preaches to the Ninevites," from Ridpath's Universal History, Book Third
  49. "Joshua Crosses the River Jordan With the Ark of the Covenant," by Benhamin West
  50. Jude, the Apostle" by Anthony van Dyck
  51. "Light of the Lamb," mosaic on church building
  52. "The Lord's Prayer," by James Tissot
  53. "Lost Sheep," by Adolf Wagner von der Mühl
  54. "Medical Missionary Attending to a Sick African," by Harold Copping
  55. "The Merchants Chased from the Temple," by James Tissot
  56. "Missionary preaching in a kukui grove in Hawaii," by Alfred T. Agate
  57. "Missionary Ship 'Duff' Arriving in Tahiti," lithograph by Joseph Martin Kronheim
  58. "Moses before the burning bush," by Gebhard Fugel
  59. "Moses Confronts Pharoah," Holman Bible Illustrators
  60. "Moses Leads the Exodus" by Jim Padgett
  61. "My Shepherd," painting on a ceiling in St. Callixtus catacomb outside Rome
  62. "Nehemiah Visits the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls" by Gustav Doré
  63. "Old Man Reading" by Albert Anker
  64. "Onesimus returns to Philemon with Paul's letter in his hands," by an unknown Medieval period artist
  65. "Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt," by unknown artist
  66. "The Passion of Creation," by Leonid Pasternak
  67. "Pentecost" by Titian
  68. "Peter denies that he is one of Jesus' disciples," by Gustave Doré
  69. "Preaching to Natives on the lava at Kokukano, Hawai'i," sketch by William Ellis
  70. "Prophet Nahum," by James Tissot
  71. "Prophets and Kings of the Old Testament Adoring the Name of Jehovah" by Nicolas Bertin
  72. "Prophets and Kings of the Old Testament Adoring the Name of Jehovah" by Nicolas Bertin
  73. "Pure Diversity" by Mirta Toledo
  74. "Reading the Bible," by Gerrit Dou
  75. "Reaper," by Camille Pissarro
  76. "The Reapers," by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
  77. "Roberto de Nobili," by unknown
  78. "Saint Ambrose," by Rutilio di Lorenzo Manetti
  79. "Saint Paul" by Guercino
  80. "Saint Paul Writing His Epistles" by Valentin de Boulogne
  81. "Samuel Annoints David" by François-Léon Benouville
  82. Satan — detail in "The Last Judgment" by Jacob de Backer
  83. "The Sermon of the Beatitudes," by James Tissot
  84. "The Seven Last Words of Christ," by F. Holland Day
  85. "Still Life with a Bible," by Vincent van Gogh
  86. "Sunday Morning in Virginia" by Winslow Homer
  87. "The Temptation of Christ," by Juan de Flandes
  88. "The Ten Commandments," Providence Lithograph Company card
  89. Ten Commandments in Hebrew on Parchment, by Jekutiel ben Isaac Sofer
  90. "The Thankful Poor," by Henry Ossawa Tanner
  91. "The Twelve Minor Prophets," marble relief in Orvieto, Italy
  92. "Unisphere" designed by Gilmore David Clarke
  93. "Young Samuel Hears God's Voice," Providence Lithograph Company card
  94. "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog," by Caspar David Friedrich
  95. "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. Ancient Near East, map
  4. Antique plumb bob and line, photo
  5. Bible maps worksheet
  6. Canaan, strategic land bridge, map
  7. Church of the Nazarene global administratrive regions, map
  8. Corinth: Stone columns of an ancient temple, photo
  9. Collage of people worshipping in various religions, photo
  10. Diwali: An arrangement of diyas (oil lamps) for the festival, photo
  11. Eckert 4 projection of the global made with natural earth data
  12. Earth's City Lights, photo
  13. Ephesus: Façade of the ancient library building, photo
  14. Esther scroll at a Spanish synagogue, photo
  15. Facial photos of males from 16 different ethnic groups," collage by Wilhelm Gause
  16. Food offered in worship at a Buddhist Tet festival in Vietnam, photo
  17. Food offered in worship at a Hindu shrine in India, photo
  18. Frontispiece of a 1582 Douai-Rheims New Testament
  19. Galatia in modern-day Turkey, map
  20. Gateway to ancient Nineveh, photo of ruins
  21. Genesis 1 written in Hebrew on a chicken egg, photo
  22. "Gifted Hands" by GilDachomo, photo
  23. Goddess Shitla Mata, photo of marble statue
  24. Great Isaiah Scroll from Qumran, photo
  25. Greek manuscript of verses of 2 John, photo
  26. "Moses Writing" screen capture from "Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Discovery"
  27. Palestine map worksheet (OT locations)
  28. Palestine map worksheet (NT locations)
  29. Philippi: Ancient ruins in Greece, photo
  30. Thessalonica: Ancient ruins of the Roman Agora or Forum, photo
  31. Religions of the world, map
  32. Tabernacle model in Israel, photo
  33. The World from My Perspective, maps
  34. Topographical projection of the world, map

Word Cloud Graphics

  1. Heart of God: Faraway Places
  2. Humility Synonyms
  3. Missiological concepts like indigenization, holistic, and empowerment
  4. Themes like sending, Gret Commission, global hope and light to the nations
  5. Ways Global Missionaries Reflect Christ
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

What can art masterpieces do for us?

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