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 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.

Over 70 Art Masterpieces Reflecting Webpage Content

Photos and Maps on this Site

— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

What can art masterpieces do for us?

“The goal of life is rapture. Art is the way we experience it. Art is the transforming experience.” -- Joseph Campbell, professor of literature, writer, and speaker
“Art is a human activity consisting in this, that one man consciously, by means of certain external signs, hands on to others feelings he has lived through, and that other people are infected by these feelings and also experience them.” -- Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist, thinker, and moral philosopher
“The nature of the masterpieces is not to dazzle. Their nature is to persuade, to convince, to enter into us through our pores.” -- Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 19th Century French painter
“A Christian should use the arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, mind you, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An artwork can be a doxology in itself.” -- Francis A. Schaeffer
“What is Christian in art does not lie in the theme but in the spirit of it, in its wisdom and the understanding of reality it reflects.” -- Hans R. Rookmaaker, Dutch Christian scholar, art historian, and cultural critic
"“Art is a wonderful thing. It has the power to lift us from our common day-to-day existence and transport us to the high and lofty realms. ort us to the high and lofty realms. In fact, I think art is among those things that Paul admonishes us to look to for relief in our times of trouble, despair or dullness.” -- Mark Graham, managing editor of the Herald of Holiness