Saturday, January 26, 2008

Nazareth Village gift shop


The Nazareth Village gift shop is now back online!
There are lots of interesting products available, definitely worth a visit! The website is nice and easy to use too, Well laid out with nice graphics. You can visit the Nazareth Village website here.

I've just ordered a few items that will be helpful as reference, so I'll let you know what the service is like. I was told by someone last week that it's a great place to visit to, if you're ever in the Holy Land!

Update 7th Feb 08:
Received my order from the Nazareth Village Project! The service was quick, and all the products that we ordered were of a high quality.
The book 'The Nazareth Jesus Knew' is a very helpful book, with superb photographs, a mine of information for the Bible artist! I recommend it.

Top marks to Nazareth Village!

Finding Harold Copping.


Dr Sandy Brewer very kindly loaned me her copy of the biography of Bible artist Harold Copping 'Finding Harold Copping' written by Sheila and Ken Wilson. I read it last night and can highly recommend it!

I've now added some additional information about Copping to the 'Harold Copping' post that you might find interesting.
Copies of this book can be obtained from the 'Shoreham & District Historical Society'.

Posts on other helpful books:
The Great Bible Discovery series
The Bible Story
The World Jesus knew
The Splendor of the Temple
Other related posts:
Harold Copping

Friday, January 25, 2008

Carl Heinrich Bloch


This is the second in a series of 'Guest Articles' by Paul Green of Virginia.

Carl Heinrich Bloch - born on May 23, 1834, Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1865 Bloch was assigned to illustrate the life of Christ, in a series of 23 paintings for the King's Praying Chamber in Frederiksborg Castle Chapel, Denmark. It would take Bloch almost fourteen years to complete the commission. The resulting paintings would define his career and would be complemented by eight altar pieces and an outstanding series of 78 etchings, influenced by Rembrandt’s depictions of Christ.

Following the premature death of his wife in 1886 he was left with the responsibility of his eight children. The grief and stress proved to be too much and he died of stomach cancer in 1890 at the age of 56. In addition to his Biblical art, Bloch was renowned as a genre and portrait painter and served under various positions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Bloch’s painting 'Marriage At Cana' (above) depicts the reaction of the servers as they realize the water has been transformed into wine. The figure of Christ looks on from a distance from his seat at the wedding table. The masterly use of lighting bathes Jesus and the wedding guests in bright daylight as one of the servers in the foreground points to the source of the miracle.

The etching 'Writing in the Sand' (1889) depicts a thoughtful Jesus in stark contrast to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery. Their desire for justice under the law which requires the stoning to death of the woman is countered by Jesus calmly writing in the sand. Jesus becomes the focus of attention as some reflect on their own actions and turn away.
Text © Paul Green 2008.

I'd like to add a brief footnote to Paul's article.
Like many artists, Carl Bloch struggled with doubts about his own abilities. Later in his career, these doubts were replaced by an intense conscientiousness regarding what he considered to be his calling, which was to paint scenes from the life of Christ.

During his short life, Bloch produced around 250 paintings, but considered his alter paintings to be his most important work!
For more of Bloch's Bible Art, click here.

Other articles by Paul Green:
Henry Ossawa Tanner
Herbert Gustave Schmalz

Thursday, January 24, 2008

On the road to Emmaus


I'm about to illustrate the story of the two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, as part of the 'Resurrection story'. I remember hearing recently the suggestion that this couple were in fact husband and wife as opposed to the two men that we normally see depicted!
No explanation was given though, and I can't see any good reasons in scripture to believe it was so. Am I missing something?

I was wondering if anyone else had heard this suggestion, and what the reasoning was behind it? As usual. I welcome all comments!