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 the frescoes of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel 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, Christ, and the Apostles.

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 their use adds value to the content of the pages on which they appear.

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

More Than 40 Art Masterpieces Illustrating 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 Beheading of St. James,” by Philip Galle
  7. “Christ on the Sea of Galilee,” by Peter Paul Rubens
  8. “Christ’s Prophecy of the End of the World,” by Frans Hogenberg
  9. “Daniel’s Vision of Four Beasts,” by Matthäus Merian
  10. “Devotions at Home,” by Elisabeth Baumann
  11. “Divine Service in the Catacombs of St. Calixtus, A.D. 50,” unknown
  12. Earth’s City Lights, photo
  13. Easter: “The Holy Women at Christ’s Tomb,” by Annibale Carracci
  14. Elder brother — illustration of Luke 15 by Jim Padgett
  15. “Ezekiel Cuts Off His Beard and Hair and Burns It,” by unknown
  16. “Feeding the Poor,” by Wilhelm Gause
  17. “The Great Commission,” stained glass window in El Paso, TX
  18. “He created dry land, the seas and plants,” woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
  19. “The Huns at the Battle of Chalons,” by A. De Neuville
  20. Indulgence seller at work, anonymous
  21. “Jesus and Zacchaeus,” by Niels Larsen Stevns
  22. “Jesus Sends Out 70 Disciples,” anonymous
  23. “Jewish Temple — The Soul of Jerusalem,” by Alex Levin
  24. “Jonah,” anonymous
  25. “Jonah Preaches to the Ninevites,” from Ridpath’s Universal History, Book Third
  26. “Light of the Lamb,” mosaic on church building
  27. “The Lord’s Prayer,” by James Tissot
  28. “Lost Sheep,” by Adolf Wagner von der Mühl
  29. “The Merchants Chased from the Temple,” by James Tissot
  30. “Missionary preaching in a kukui grove in Hawai‘i,” by Alfred T. Agate
  31. “Moses before the burning bush,” by Gebhard Fugel
  32. “My Shepherd,” painting on a ceiling in St. Callixtus catacomb outside Rome
  33. “Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt,” by unknown artist
  34. “The Passion of Creation,” by Leonid Pasternak
  35. “Peter denies that he is one of Jesus’ disciples,” by Gustave Doré
  36. “Preaching to Natives on the lava at Kokukano, Hawai‘i,” sketch by William Ellis
  37. “Reading the Bible,” by Gerrit Dou
  38. “The Reapers,” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
  39. Satan — detail in “The Last Judgment” by Jacob de Backer
  40. “Saint Ambrose,” by Rutilio di Lorenzo Manetti
  41. “The Sermon of the Beatitudes,” by James Tissot
  42. “Still Life with a Bible,” by Vincent van Gogh
  43. “The Temptation of Christ,” by Juan de Flandes
  44. “The Ten Commandments,” Providence Lithograph Company card
  45. “The Twelve Minor Prophets,” marble relief in Orvieto, Italy
  46. “Young Samuel Hears God’s Voice,” Providence Lithograph Company card
  47. “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog,” by Caspar David Friedrich
  48. “William Carey Translating the Bible” by Arthur Grosvenor Daniels
— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
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