Houses in Bible times

I've been doing a little research of late into the construction process of housing in Bible times. It's advantageous for Bible artists to have some idea of this process as we often have to design buildings in our Bible pictures. When you have an idea of this process, it's possible to design your buildings with a level of authenticity. This research came in handy recently when illustrating the story of the 'Paralyzed man' in Mark chapter 2.
Additional text (in green) is by Dr Leen Ritmeyer. Also, the two window illustrations below are © Dr Leen Ritmeyer 2008.

Room sizes
The picture (on the right) shows the section of roof that has been removed in order that the paralyzed man might be lowered down before Jesus. The rooms in houses at this time were not very high, about 6 1/2 - 8 ft. The walls were spanned by timber beams, usually cypress or sycamore wood. These beams were spaced about the width of a man or more depending on how wealthy the home owner was and the availability of local timber. The width of the rooms was also governed by the length of roofing timbers available, usually about 9-10 ft.

Roof construction
I've illustrated the hole near the edge of the roof, (see above). The reason for this is that I imagined that the four friends of the paralyzed man would have wanted to do as little damage to the roof as possible. So, by digging the hole near the edge of the roof, it would be easy for them to see where the roof timbers were, as the timbers protruded through the stone walls at the end of the building. This would make it easy for them to dig between the roof timbers. Incidentally, where the roof timbers protruded, they were painted with hot tar to prevent decay.
Reeds, sometimes bound together with natural fiber, were then laid across the timbers. A layer of mud plaster was then applied over the reeds followed by a dry mixture of chalk, earth and ash, (which provided insulation). This layer was applied while the mud plaster was still damp. Finally a mixture of mud rich in lime, (to keep out water), was added. A stone roller was used to compact each layer, very similar to the concrete rollers that gardeners use to roll lawns. The compressed layers would have been around 3 inches thick and would have required a determined effort to dig up when hard! Roofs were weeded and re-rolled on an annual basis.
Most houses in Biblical times had flat roofs, which were used for storage and drying fruit and people also slept there in summertime.

Wall construction
Walls were generally around 2ft thick! This was for both insulation and strength. As you can see from the picture, roughly quarried stones were used in the walls, and 'finished' limestone blocks were used on the corners of the building, door lintels, and around the windows.
Mortar, made from soil, chalk and straw, was then used to fill in the gaps between the stones. This was darker in color than the stone. The use of mortar helped both insulation and kept out both wind and rain! The straw that was used in the mortar was the leftover straw following the 'winnowing' of grain. Nothing went to waste!

Windows
I read that in first century Galilee, many windows were constructed to be narrower on the outside, to keep out intruders, and wider on the inside to let more light into the room. Apparently, this is based on an ancient Egyptian design. Windows were also small and set quite high in the wall.
Windows were often facing a southern or easterly direction as this caught the early morning sun and acted as an early form of 'alarm clock!' Windows facing this way also gave some protection from the cold winter winds and heavy rain that generally came in from the northwest.
Most rooms received their light from the courtyard, while the few windows in the outer walls were small - often widening out toward the inside, (see picture).
Houses in Biblical times did not have many windows, even the rich limited the number of openings. This had several purposes. First, windows let in the cold and weather. Also, crime could be a very big problem in urban areas. Therefore outside windows were usually small and high to avoid burglary. Instead of windows, well-to-do houses got their light and air from their courtyards. The poor suffered along in the darkness or with what poor windows their insulae might have. Perhaps if they were very lucky, a shuttered balcony might also let in light and air some of the time.


Palaces in OT times had sometimes decorative windows. One such window was found in Ramat Rachel, where Jehoiakim had a palace. Here is my drawing of that window. Fragments of similar windows have been found in the City of David, Samaria, Hazor and Megiddo. These windows faced the courtyard and never the outside.
Dr Leen Ritmeyer.

Plastering
The interior picture, (top right), is not quite accurate in that these interior walls would most probably have been plastered. You can see the smaller 'chink' stones that were set into the mortar in order to achieve a flatter surface before plastering. The plastering of interior walls was done with a mixture of soil, chalk and straw, (very similar to the mortar mix). Wealthier homes were plastered both inside and out with a white lime rich plaster. Plastered walls also kept out unwanted insects and reptiles.

Building requirements
Looking up through the roof you can see the compulsory 2ft high parapet wall that bordered all roofs as a safety measure. The law regarding this building requirement is found in Deut 22:8.
If we add this 2ft high wall to the average room height of 8ft, this gives us a total height for an average single story house in Bible times of 10ft.

Update 20 April:
Dr Leen Ritmeyer has emailed me with some very interesting information about a possible alternative method of roof construction for the house in the Mark chapter 2 story of the paralyzed man.
Due to a scarcity of timber, many houses were completely built of basalt, including the ceilings! For more details on this, including a diagram, go to Dr Ritmeyers blog here.

Related posts:
No more Domes!
Being Roofless!

The Great Bible Discovery

Over the last few years, with the help of Amazon & Ebay, I've been slowly collecting 'The Great Bible Discovery' series of books, (originally published as Découvrir la Bible in 1983). There were 24 volumes in total, 18 books covering the Old Testament and 6 books covering the New. OM Publishing reprinted the whole of the New Testament as a combined book in 1999, but have no plans to reprint the Old Testament.

This collection of books contain some very good Bible figure reference, and they've proved extremely helpful over the years. One of my favorite artists, who worked on this series of books, is 'Paolo Eleuteri-Serpieri'. He has illustrated stories in books 1, 7, 8 and 19.
I was wondering if there was anyone out there who can help me to complete the set. There are six of the Old Testament stories that I still don't have. They are:
10. Elijah & Elisha.
11. Amos and the Righteousness of God.
13. Jeremiah.
15. Daniel, Ruth, Esther.
17. Jonah, Job, Ecclesiastes.
18. Pharisees Sadducees and Essenes.

If anyone has any of the above titles for sale, please email me!
Check out your church libraries, you might have a set gathering dust in the corner! The Old Testament books have red covers and the New Testament have blue, (see picture above).
Many thanks for your help!
Check out 'The Great Bible Discovery Update'

Update: 26.11.09
I now have the full set thanks to Stefan Koelewijn in the Netherlands!

What do 'Ewe' think?

It's that time of year again (in the U.K.) when all the baby lambs are born. We are very fortunate to be surrounded by farmland and we never tire of seeing the baby lambs each year.

When I was watching the lambs this year I was reminded of something that was said by one of our church members a number of years ago. He said that he never quite understood the parable of separating the sheep from the goats, (Matt 25:31-46), until he visited the Holy land on holiday. The problem he had was that separating sheep from goats in the u.k. would be a relatively easy thing to do, whereas in the context of the parable, the suggestion is that this could be a little tricky. It was only when he actually saw the sheep in Israel, that he realized just how similar they are to the goats!

Now, I'm not an expert on the many breeds of sheep in the u.k, but it's fair to say that the more commonly seen breeds have shorter up-turned ears and short wooly coats, as opposed to the longer lop-eared variety of sheep more commonly seen in Israel, (see photo). I also noticed that the sheep in Israel have longer, shaggier fur.
In the interview below, Diana Shimon mentioned the importance of becoming familiar with the 'ancient fauna' of Israel.

I have made the mistake, (a number of times), of drawing very 'English' sheep in my Bible pictures! Has anyone else made a similar mistake?
Photo © Bibleplaces.com 2008

Other Bible animal posts:
Dugongs!

Guest Bible Artist interview #3

Diana Shimon
Our third Bible artist interview is with Diana Shimon. Diana, who is based in Israel, and is a regular reader of the Bible illustration blog, has very kindly taken time out of her very busy day, as both a Bible artist and mother of two young children, to take part in the following interview. Diana has been illustrating a children's 'hebrew version' of the Bible for the last 15 years!

Diana, what can you tell us about the children's Bible that you've been working on, and what will be its title?
I am working on the Children's Bible in modern Hebrew for youth, it's called 'The Testimony'. Right now, I am working intensively on the third volume –'The Prophets'.
For years we dreamed of a Bible for children with authentic illustrations that would be true to the times, geography and cultures of the Bible, accurately depicting architecture, ritual and landscape. Not just a Bible story book, but a faithful edition of the scriptures, with attractive pictures to serve as a stepping-stone toward our children reading and studying the full word of God for themselves. Now the dream is beginning to be realized.


How long have you been working on this Bible, and when should it be finished?
I have been working on the Children's Bible Project since 1992. The whole of the Bible is being illustrated, Habbakuk and Job, Zephaniah and Jude, 1 and 2 Timothy and the Song of Songs, Daniel and Leviticus. There is not a book in scripture that has not been illustrated, including many that would have not been illustrated in modern times, certainly not in full color and to such a high standard.
I did around 1000 illustrations for 5 volumes and around 1000 figures for the genealogy tree in 1 Chronicals. All the illustartions are ready, we are just waiting for the completion of the text. We plan to finish the project completely by 2013.


How do you produce your Bible pictures, are they watercolors?
I work in gouache. The illustrations are meant to explain the facts, so the process of devising the illustrations is taken very seriously. The style is realistic in order to convey a sense of reality rather than fantasy. There's a fictional atmosphere conveyed today in so many Bible illustrations. The gouache colors are sharp and emphatic and the illustrations are true to the topography of Israel and to its ancient flora and fauna as well as to its various material and religious cultures.



I remember reading some time ago that you are trying to be as accurate as possible when illustrating Bible clothing etc. How did you go about researching this?
I have the aid of professional archaeological, linguistic and Biblical scholars and will be consulting a control-body of young readers.

What have you found most difficult about illustrating the Bible?
I think the 2 Temples, (Solomon's Temple and The Temple from the book of Ezekiel), were the most difficult illustrations. For me the goal was high quality large illustrations with the correct details, sizes and proportions. Some of the details are not clear in the Bible, and some are missed. It was hard to imagine the whole picture.

Diana, you live in Israel now, but where are you from originally?
I was born in the Soviet Union (Soviet Georgia, Tbilissi) in 1967, and grew up during the times of Breznev. I emigrated to Israel with my family in 1990. I have been working in Hagefen Publishing (CWI brunch in Israel) since 1992 as an illustrator and graphic designer.
I am married and I have 2 young children aged 6 and 4 years old.

It must be really inspiring actually living in Israel. Have you visited Biblical locations for inspiration?
I came to Israel from the Soviet Georgia at age 22. I had never been in Israel before. I grow up as a painter in my motherland and I absorbed the colors, culture and the beauty of that country. In the beginning, when I started to work on the Children's Bible project in Israel all the Israeli people that I drew looked more like Georgians, and the landscapes were exactly like those in Cavcaz.
I understood, that I needed to change everything. I did a special trip around Israel, from the south to the north, I took photos, learned more about it's history, and did many sketches. I still do it even now, after 18 years here!

Have any other Bible artists inspired you?
Yes, of course. I like the art of Jewish artist Abel Pann. I like his attention to detail on Bible costumes and the natural atmosphere of his pictures, also his use of realistic colors.

what advice would you give to an artist illustrating the Bible?
I have a few bits of advice to give an artist illustrating the Bible.

a. Do you plan to illustrate the Bible? Is it on your heart? Pray and ask God to help you!

b. Read the Scriptures again and again. Try to understand every word, and don't miss any small details, sometimes they are very important!

c. Don't use blond hear and blue eyes on Israeli people. They were dark haired people! King David had red hair, not blond!

d. Think about Israel, it's a dry hot desert land! not much water and few big rivers, avoid illustrating green mountains and fields. Use more brown and ocher colors in your palette. It is only a few weeks in the year when we have flowers and green landscapes. By the end of May it is already yellow until December. 

e. Go and see the artworks of different Biblical artists and illustrators, look at different photos of the Holy Land in books, websites and on postcards.

Would you say that illustrating the Bible has had an effect on you spiritually?
I think that I have a great privilege! Isn't it amazing to open a workday with a prayer and a chapter from The Bible? I really appreciate it! God is faithful!


Have you always had an interest in the Bible?
I grew up in a family of believers, my father is a pastor. I remember myself talking about God with my friends from a very young age. My grandmother was strong in the faith and I learned from her how to read the Scriptures and how to understand. I remember her old antique Bible with the illustrations of Gustav Dore.
Yes, I always had an interest in the Bible.

Where can we purchase a copy of this Bible from when it's published?
'The testimony' Volumes 1,2,3 in modern hebrew will be available from:
HaGefen Publishing
P.O.Box 60,
Rishon Le Zion,
75100 Israel

Tel/Fax 972-(0)3-9661898
E-mail: office@ha-gefen.org.il

website: www.ha-gefen.org.il

English version: 'The pilgrim Book of Bible Stories'
Website: www.pilgrimpress.com
Illustrations above are © Diana Shimon/HaGefen Publishing 2008  

Thank you so much for taking part in this interview Diana. I can't wait to get a copy of this Bible when it's finished! Over 20 years of hard work will have gone into the production of it. As soon as I know of a publishing date I will re-post all the details.
It's true to say that all of the Bible Artists that I've interviewed so far have found that illustrating the Bible has not been "just another freelance job", it's been a vocation that has consumed them for many years and, in the case of Jeff Anderson, led to a complete change of career!

I'm always on the lookout for Bible illustrators to interview for the B.I.B. So, if you know of one, please get in contact!

Related posts:
Interview with Jeff Anderson
Interview with Keith Neely
Interview with Dr Leen Ritmeyer

Easter Blessings!

I'd like to wish all readers of the Bible illustration blog a very Happy Easter!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.
Matthew 28:6

What did Herod's Temple look like?

I've just been working on illustrations for the Bible story of 12 year old Jesus' visit to the Temple with Mary & Joseph for the feast of the Passover, (Luke 2:42). This is one of a number of New Testament stories that takes place in Herod's Temple complex. Because the Temple appears in so many stories, it's important that Bible artists have some idea of what it looked like. The Temple took a staggering 43-46 years to build, although it was never fully completed in accordance with the original design. The Temple was built in the classical Roman style. The reason it's called Herod's Temple is because it was 'Herod the Great' who, in an attempt to gain the favor of his Jewish subjects, ordered the rebuilding of the Temple on a much grander scale. The Temple was almost completely destroyed in A.D. 70, (which Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:1-2).

We see little evidence in Bible pictures of construction work taking place on the Temple despite the fact that during the whole life of Jesus the Temple was under construction! Bible artist William Hole didn't miss this fact, as in at least two of his paintings you can see construction workers in the background working on the Temple! Hole is one of the few artists who showed the Temple in great detail. His picture (left) shows the 15 semicircular steps that led from the 'Court of the Women', through the 'Nicanor Gate' to the 'Court of the Priests' in which stood the 'Alter of Sacrifice'. My only criticism of this picture is the use of Byzantine paneling on the walls. (similar to that seen on the exterior of the Dome of the Rock). Hole was heavily influenced by Byzantine & Arab architecture during his visit to the Holy land, as can be seen from his use of dome topped buildings in his Bible pictures. The other point was that the Court of the Women was actually outside, not inside as this picture clearly shows. Hole would have easily realised this, had he had access to one of the many scale models of Herod's Temple. Sadly, they were all built after his lifetime.


Alec Garrards Temple Model
In my quest to find out more about the Temple I purchased a copy of Alec Garrard's book 'The Splendor of the Temple', (available from Amazon). Suffolk farmer Alec Garrard devoted 18 years to creating a scale model of Herod's Temple which is reputed to be the best in the world! The model measures 20 feet by 12 feet in size. The book contains detailed photos of the model from all angles so it's a great reference guide for Bible artists. This model really has to be seen to be believed. Every single clay brick used in the construction of this model was hand baked in Mr Garrard's oven! The book describes in detail every area of the Temple both above and below ground and suggests the areas of the Temple where the various Bible stories took place.

How do we know what Herod's Temple looked like?
After all, as I've already mentioned, it was almost completely destroyed by the Roman army in A.D. 70! Although there is very little detailed information recorded in the Bible about Herod's Temple, there are several reliable sources that describe in detail what the Temple looked like. The following sources were used by those involved in reconstructing scale models of Herod's Temple:
Firstly, they had the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who lived during the time of Herod's Temple and witnessed it's destruction. To give you some idea of the exorbitant sums Herod spent on the Temple, Josephus speaks of marble being "overlaid with gold!"
The Mishnah, which is a codification of the oral Jewish law, was also a rich source of information for researchers regarding the Temple.
In addition to this, they had of course all the archaeological evidence, and the writings of expert archaeologists like Dan Bahat and Dr Leen Ritmeyer who I believe have written much about the Temple complex. Alfred Edersheim's book 'The Temple: It's Ministry and Services' also proved helpful to researchers and model makers alike.

Architectural details
I've been reading about ancient Jewish Art to try and get an idea of what type of images would be found decorating the interior walls of the Temple. I mentioned in an earlier post that the 'Star of David' was not used till much later but images of seven stick menorahs have been found carved in stone from this period and earlier.
There is some surviving stonework from the Temple that shows that the Herodian craftsmen were careful to use decorative styles that conformed to Jewish law, (no figurative representation). Any figurative representation would contravene the second commandment. Instead elaborate floral motifs were used which included Vine and Acanthus leaves. Later, in the 3rd and 4th cent A.D, when Jewish art became more Hellenised, figures in a Hellenistic-Persian style were found in synagogues, both on floor mosaics and wall frescos.
in I Kings 7:25. The walls of Solomon's Temple had embroidered tapestries of cherubim hanging on them, and of course we read in Exodus 26 of the artistic designs of cherubim being woven into the curtain of the tabernacle. (See the 'Drawing Cherubs' post). I would like to find out more about the internal furnishings of the Temple, so if you know of any good books or links, please let me know.

There are a number of scale models of Herod's Temple around the globe. As well as Alec Garrards 1/100 scale model in the U.K, there was also one in the grounds of the 'Holyland Hotel' in Jerusalem, (which has since moved to the Israel Museum). Another can be found in the 'Holy Land Experience' in Orlando, Florida, and there is a 1/300 scale model made by 'York model makers' which is available from Dr Leen Ritmeyer.
There's only one difference that I've noticed between these models, and that is the design of the four giant 'Lamp stands' that stood in the 'Women's Court'. I can only assume that the descriptions given of them in the sources mentioned above were unclear.

Related posts:
Interview with Dr Leen Ritmeyer
Herod's Temple Mount model update

Question 2!

Our second Bible illustration related question comes from Matt in the States:

"I'm working on kid's bible coloring pages and was about to do one with Paul in prison, but realized that I've no idea what type of prison it would be. Would it be man made, or a hole in the wall? Also what would Paul be writing his letters on?..and with what? (inkpot and quill?). I suppose that's 3 questions..either way, thanks for whatever guidance you can give".

It would be very useful for all Bible artists to know the answers to these 3 questions. As always, all comments will be greatly appreciated!

Related post:
Question 1
Question 3

Ask Moses!

Just wondered if anyone else has used AskMoses.com? This is an online resource that answers questions about all aspects of Judaism. The resource is open to both Jews and non Jews alike. The questioner is connected to one of many Rabbis via a live link, who then attempt to answer your question in real time! I've used it twice now, and it has been helpful.

This can be a handy resource for Bible artists who may need a quick answer about a particular detail of a Jewish custom. Bear in mind though that all the questions that Bible artists ask relate to customs practiced over 2,000 years ago which may differ in some aspects to those practiced today, and you may not get connected to a rabbi whose speciality is ancient Judaism.

The question I asked today was prompted by my seeing some Bible illustrations that depicted bare foot worshippers in a synagogue! This bothered me as I normally show normal footwear being worn inside the New Testament synagogue or Temple, and I didn't want to get such a basic detail wrong! This sounds like quiet an easy question but even 'Googling' didn't reveal the answer!

The answer that came back from Rabbi Jacobson was brief, but to the point!
"Not bare feet". Later in our conversation he confirmed to me that normal footwear, (sandals etc), would have been worn inside the synagogue. That was a relief!
Thanks again Rabbi Jacobson!

Contents of the Ark?

We have our first question from Nathan P. Daniel (Jumbo), which I've pasted below.

"I am putting together my own still life for a drawing class of mine, I figured out a good Biblical one to do: the items that were placed inside the ark of the covenant, which served as a testimony of what the Lord has done. So far, I've written out the Ten Commandments in the Proto-Sinaitic script most likely used for Hebrew in that day and did some brief research."

"I was wondering if you might have any other pointers on these items. I know that an omer is about 2 liters, but I'm not sure what kind of jar was used in that day. I also looked up coriander seeds, which appear to be about 4 mm in diameter, and I just figure if I find some I can paint them white and fill that jar with them. What would work as a good alternative to these, especially since I want to scale things down some? Also, Aaron's rod budded, but what type of plant/flower budded from it?"

"Thank you for your time; unfortunately I have to have most of this for class on Thursday, so its kind of short notice. This should make for a very interesting shopping trip."

To start the ball rolling, I was told not long ago by a Jewish believer who had studied this subject that the two tablets of stone that contained the 'Ten Commandments' did not have five commandments on each as is often depicted in children's Bibles, but had the full 10 commands on each one! This is a subject that I've not studied yet so we would appreciate any help readers can give. And, as you can see from Nathans email, he needs some answers pretty quick-!!
Many thanks!

Related posts:
Question 2
Question 3

Any Questions?

I was very impressed by the response to the question I asked a few weeks ago in the 'Road to Emmaus' post. I received 12 responses in one day! which more than adequately answered my question.

This got me thinking that the 'Bible illustration blog' is a great place for Bible artists to ask those tricky questions about Bible stories before they illustrate them!

So, if you have any Bible story related questions that you need a quick answer to, email me, and I'll add your question as a post! We have over 100 visitors a day now, so there's a good chance your question will be answered pretty much straight away!

P.S. Bible Art related questions only please!

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

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

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!

Henry Ossawa Tanner

This is the first in a series of 'Guest Articles' written by readers of the Bible illustration blog. In the first one, Paul Green from Virginia talks about Bible artist Henry Ossawa Tanner

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)
The first African-American artist to achieve international recognition and acclaim, his style has been described as “vital and transcendent” by fellow artist Romare Bearden.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to an affluent family, Tanner’s father was a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopalian Church and his mother Sarah Tanner, a teacher and former slave. Tanner left America for Europe in 1891 and enrolled in the Acadamie Julian in Paris, France. The cosmopolitan and liberal atmosphere of the city was a welcome relief from the racial prejudice he had encountered in America and it was during this period that he painted his acclaimed Biblical works.

After marrying white opera singer Jessie Macauley Olssen, Tanner returned to New York in 1903 for the birth of his son but decided to settle permanently in France. The scandal caused by an inter-racial marriage played a major factor in his decision.
Tanner visited the Holy Land an several occasions and his first hand experiences of the local atmosphere and colour of the region give his Biblical work an authentic quality. His muted palette in “Flight from Egypt” creates an atmosphere of anxiety and fear, fitting the subject matter.

The features of Jesus in “Nicodemus visits Jesus” have caused much discussion and some controversy through the years. Is Jesus portrayed as a black man or is his face merely dark because he is in the shadows? Tanner remained ambiguous. When asked he concluded, “No artist has ever produced a type, nor ever will” regarding a definitive racial and ethnic representation of Christ.
Tanner exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and won an honorable mention for “Daniel in the Lion’s Den”. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur in 1923 and became the first African American to be inducted in to the National Academy of Design in 1927.
© Paul Green 2008.
Picture1 Nicodemus Visiting Jesus, 1899.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Joseph E. Temple Fund
picture 2 Flight into Egypt, 1899.
Detroit Institute of Arts
Founders Society Purchase, African Art Gallery Committee Fund

Other articles by Paul Green:
Carl Heinrich Bloch
Herbert Gustave Schmalz

My Favorite Bible Artist #5

Harold Copping 1863-1932
Harold Copping has always been one of my favorite Bible artists. The 'American Art Archives' have him down as American, but he was in fact British. Born in 1863, Copping studied at the Royal Academy Schools in London, (the oldest Art school in the U.K.), and won a Landseer scholarship enabling him to visit Paris. He became a well travelled, and an accomplished illustrator, settling eventually in Kent in southern England. During his lifetime Copping illustrated many classical books from Charles Dickens to Shakespeare, but he is best remembered for his Bible illustrations.

Like William Hole and Frank Hampson, Copping traveled to Palestine in order to achieve authenticity in his Bible pictures. It is the realism I like about coppings watercolors, the great accuracy in the clothing detail, and of course his superb figure work! Coppings first illustrated Bible later became known as 'The Copping Bible' (1910). This was a best seller and led to many more Bible commissions.

Copping had strong connections with the missionary societies of his day, especially the 'London Missionary Society' (LMS) who commissioned him to produce Bible pictures for them. Coppings Bible pictures were put onto lantern slides and were used by missionaries in remote areas around the world, in much the same way as our pictures are being used today! Coppings pictures were also widely reproduced by missionary societies as posters, tracts and as magazine illustrations.


Probably the most famous of Coppings Bible pictures was 'The Hope of the World' (1915). This depicts Jesus sat with a group of children from different continents. Dr Sandy Brewer writes "The Hope of the World, painted by Harold Copping for the London Missionary Society in 1915, is arguably the most popular picture of Jesus produced in Britain in the twentieth century. It was an iconic image in the Sunday school movement between 1915 and 1960".
There's a fascinating article, (written by Dr Sandy Brewer), about the history of this painting and the big part it played in the early Sunday school movement. Read it here.

Harold Copping is one of the few artists along with William Hole whose Nativity scenes correctly show the wise men visiting the infant Jesus in a house as opposed to a stable. (See the 'Nazareth or Egypt?' post). In a similar way to Cicely Mary Barker, Copping manages to capture a serene wonder in the faces of those witnessing Biblical events.


Additional information about Copping gleaned from his biography. Added on 26.01.08

Harold Copping worked in a similar way to Norman Rockwell who used family, friends and neighbors as models in his paintings. Both artists kept a room of costumes and props for the models to use, Bible costumes in Coppings case.
In many of his Bible paintings, one of his wife's stripy tea towels makes a regular appearance on the heads of various Bible characters!

Copping was under contract to the Religious Tract Society (RTS) to produce 12 religious paintings a year which he did. This was a three yearly contract that was continually renewed up until the time of his death. He was paid £50 for each painting and, under the terms of the contract, was not allowed to paint religious paintings for anyone else. Had Copping opted to receive royalties on his pictures, he would have been a very rich man, but the regular work that this contract gave him made him envied by other freelance artists!

The more I see of Coppings work, the more I marvel that he is not better known! He had an incredible talent from a very early age and, in my opinion, should be included amongst the greatest painters of our time. It may well have been his decision to concentrate on Bible art that launched him into obscurity! Bible art, even in Coppings day, did not have the credibility that it once had.

Update: April 2008
A Copping Bible sold recently on Ebay for £42.00. I'm still after one!

Related posts:
Finding Harold Copping

Favorite Bible Artist #1 Frank Hampson
Favorite Bible Artist #2 Nestor Redondo
Favorite Bible Artist #3 Clive Uptton
Favorite Bible Artist #4 Cicely Mary Barker
Favorite Bible Artist #6 Carl Heinrich Bloch
Favorite Bible Artist #7 William Hole

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all the readers of the Bible illustration blog!

During the month of December, a total of 2,713 visitors viewed a total of 6,364 pages!
I hope that you will continue to visit during 2008.

New pictures of the Nativity

Latest picture set to be added to the 'Bible picture website' is 'Part one of the Nativity'. This picture set is in the new style and contains seven pictures that tell the story from the annunciation to the dedication of Jesus in the temple.

I will be adding some brief notes on this latest picture set shortly, (check back in a few days!) In the meantime, if you haven't already read it, check out the 'Nazareth or Egypt?' post, (link below).
'Part two of the Nativity' will be ready in the next week or so, and deals with the visit of the wise men.
This latest set takes our total Bible picture count to 702!

Related posts:
Nativity (Part two)
Nazareth or Egypt?
Pictures of the Nativity
Drawing Angels!

Did Adam and Eve have a belly button?

This is one of those questions that Bible artists hear a lot. When I first illustrated Adam & Eve many years ago, I have to admit, I hadn't really thought about it, and, like Rubens, (see picture), I did illustrate them with navels!

Looking at it logically, the navel is a type of scar left after childbirth. It was where the umbilical cord, that connected the fetus to the placenta, was attached in the womb. So, as Adam & Eve were not born but created, it makes sense that they wouldn't have a belly button.
Is the answer to this question that simple?

Nate Butler, president of 'Christian Comics International' on a recent trip to Japan had a discussion with some manga artists about how we should depict Adam & Eve in a 100% genetically correct way. I will ask Nate if he will share some of his thoughts in an article for the blog.

I would be interested in any other views on this subject.

Drawing Cherubs!

It's approaching that time of year again, when Bible artists are receiving requests for angel images. I've been working on some for our latest Nativity picture story.

Following some recent comments about illustrating cherubs, I thought that Nikolaj from Belgium might like to see a literal interpretation of cherubim based on the description given in Ezekiel ch10, by Artist Robert Forrest. This picture is from the Bible Story magazine, #11. © Look & Learn 2007. Click on the picture for a larger image.

Could this be what the cherubs looked like on the Mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant?

Related posts:
Drawing Angels!
Drawing the Devil!

Nazareth or Egypt?

How well do you know the Christmas story? I thought I knew it pretty well, until I started research for our latest set of Bible pictures based on the Nativity story. I've illustrated the Nativity at least three times before, so I wasn't expecting to find anything new in it. (sound familiar?)

For some reason, I hadn't noticed before that the accounts of the Nativity given in Matthew and Luke don't quite match up. Matthew says that Mary, Joseph and baby fled south to Egypt following the birth of Jesus, (Matt 2:13), while Luke says they went north to Nazareth! (Lk 2:39). Whenever you come across what appears to be a contradiction in the Bible, you've usually discovered something that, not only isn't a contradiction, but actually ties up a lot of those loose ends that once puzzled you. At least that's been my experience, and as we will see, this case is no exception!

Luke clearly gives us the details of the first few weeks in the life of the Lord Jesus. The events of the Nativity as recorded by Luke in chapter 2 are as follows:

1). Jesus born in the stable at Bethlehem.
2). Angel appears to shepherds.
3). Shepherds visit baby Jesus in the stable, "after searching". (Amplified Bible).
4). Eight days later, Jesus is circumcised.
5). 32 days later, the family travel the 5 miles to Jerusalem for the Dedication of Jesus. According to
Lev: 12, 40 days are needed for the purification of the mother following the birth of a male child.
This includes the 8 days leading up to the circumcision. (8+32=40).
6). Dedication of Jesus at Jerusalem.
7). The family travels to Nazareth. This is a journey of 65 miles. (approximately 6 days, allowing for the difficult terrain, heat etc).

So roughly 46 days or so after the birth of Jesus, the family are back at home in Nazareth.

But, didn't the wise men visit the baby Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem? It would appear not, Matthew 2:11 clearly says "And when they had come into the house..." (not a stable). But, wasn't the house in Bethlehem? Before we try to answer that, let's take another look at the events of the Nativity as recorded this time by Matthew in chapter two.

Firstly, we don't read that the wise men followed the star all the way from the east. It seems that the star that initially appeared to the Magi in the East, didn't reappear again until the wise men left Herod's palace, (possibly up to two years later). This would explain their great joy and surprise at seeing the star in v9. The question is, why did the star appear again? The wise men were already on their way to Bethlehem, and when they got there, all they had to do was ask! The shepherds had already told everyone in Bethlehem what had happened in that now famous stable, (Lk 2:17).
Or, did the star appear because the baby Jesus was no longer in the stable, in fact, no longer in Bethlehem? Was the star now guiding them to Nazareth? Notice also that the wise men in v7 presumably told King Herod that the star first appeared two years earlier! This was the reason Herod ordered the slaughter of 14,000 male infants up to two years old.

If the star appeared at the time of the birth, according to experts it would have taken the Magi nine months to travel from Persia to Judea. Add to that the time it must have taken to interpret the meaning of the star from their ancient writings, and the time to gather the supplies and make arrangements for such an epic journey, and two years starts to sound about right!

There is another reason also why it's doubtful that the Magi arrived at the time of the actual birth:
The news of any male babies being brought into the Temple in Jerusalem for dedication, following the visit of the wise men would have aroused so much attention, Herod was sure to have been informed. Especially babies that had been born in Bethlehem! Remember that Herod was in the process of funding the building of a beautiful new Temple for the nation of Israel at this time. The chief priests and scribes had already showed themselves to be more than happy to lead Herod to the Messiah, so that he could worship Him also, (v8). The dedication of Jesus as recorded by Luke must have happened earlier for this reason alone!


There are two problems with this scenario though. Firstly, why would Joseph and his family flee from Nazareth, (which is 65 miles away), following the warning given by the angel? Well, Galilee was still in the northern part of Herod's kingdom, so Herod did have the authority to slay children there also. Could it also be possible that the chief priests and scribes made the same Messianic connection that Matthew made with Nazareth in Matt 2:23? Whatever your view is of that verse, the fact is that Matthew chose to record his interpretation in scripture, so it is possible that others came to the same conclusion regarding it. This would have been reason enough for Herod to send his soldiers north to Nazareth.

But, there's still another problem. The other question that arises is, why they would flee south to Egypt from Nazareth? A journey of over 100 miles that would take them dangerously close to Jerusalem! They would have probably taken the trade route which followed the coast, but it still went through Judea.

There is another scenario however, that does tick all the boxes.
Luke 2:41 records for us the fact that Joseph and his family returned from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. Luke chooses to mention this because, on this occasion, Mary & Joseph lose the twelve year old Jesus! What Luke doesn't record though is the fact that, according to Jewish law, Joseph was required to return to Jerusalem not once, but three times a year, because there were three pilgrim festivals that required the male member of the family to bring his tithes and offerings to Jerusalem. Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and the Feast of Booths (Sukkot).
The population of Jerusalem at these festival times swelled from around 600,000 to 2-3 million! which made accommodation hard to find. It makes sense that Joseph and his family would return to Bethlehem each time, as It is very likely that following the 'press release' given out by the shepherds, following their heavenly visitation, there would have been numerous offers of accommodation in Bethlehem for this special family. So, there would have been up to six visits made by the family to Bethlehem during the two years following the birth of Jesus. It's possible that the family made good friends in Bethlehem and stayed in the same house on each visit.

Was it during one of these visits to Bethlehem that the Magi came bearing gifts? This would explain why they came to see a 'young child' in a 'house', (Matt 2:11), opposed to a 'Babe' in a 'manger', (Luke 2:16). It also makes more sense that Joseph and family fled south to Egypt from Bethlehem which already lies south of Jerusalem. The star would almost certainly be needed too, to guide the Magi to the house where they were lodging.

Conclusion:
So, how should all the details mentioned above effect how Bible artists illustrate the Nativity story? Well, there are a number of points worth taking note of;
1). The wise men didn't visit the stable. Matt 2:11. (This is correctly shown in one of the paintings by Bible artist William Hole).
2). The star didn't appear over the stable. Which makes just about every Christmas card ever made incorrect!
3). The wise men probably didn't follow the star from the East, despite what the carols say!
4). The shepherds were not directed to the stable by a star.
5). There were probably up to 1,000 Persian soldiers accompanying the Magi, as well as those carrying supplies. This was a huge caravan of travelers, correctly shown above by Bible artist James McConnell. (© Look & Learn.com 2007). Incidentally, if you are interested in purchasing this original piece of Bible art by James McConnell shown above, you can! click here for details.

Those who produce sequential Bible art, (cartoon strip), are less likely to make mistakes like those mentioned above because they move frame by frame through the story, although I did notice, in Paolo Eleuteri-Serpieri's masterpiece on the Nativity, that he shows Joseph and his family returning from Jerusalem to the stable in Bethlehem! This is more likely the mistake of the writer Etienne Dahler though.
As always, I look forward to your thoughts on the above subject. I hope you enjoyed reading this 'Christmas conundrum'!

Update 4 December 2010: One person left an interesting link in the comments which suggests that the birth took place, not in a stable, but in the lower level of a two story house. There was still a manger there as the animals were kept on the ground floor. Have a read at: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/11/30/born-in-a-barn


Related posts:
Pictures of the Nativity
Drawing Angels!

Christmas cards

If you're looking for Christmas cards that are a little different, check out the new range of Christmas cards on offer at 'The Nazareth Village Project'

The cards display photos of authentic looking Nativity scenes. Click here for more details.

Photo © 'Nazareth Village Project' 2007

New Search Feature!

I've just added a new Google 'custom search' feature to the 'Bible illustration blog'.
This will hopefully make it a lot easier for you to find exactly what you're looking for, and improve your browsing experience.

For example, if you're searching for Bible pictures based on a particular story, you can now perform a quick search by entering the story title in the search box. All search results will be gathered from this blog, 'The Bible Picture Website' and 'Bibleartist.com'.

Also, if you're interested to read about a particular Bible artist, just type in their name and search the entire blog to find any posts written about them! If you can't find any articles about your favorite Bible artist, drop me a line with some information about the artist which I can use in future posts.

At the time of writing, 58 articles have been posted on the blog over the last 12 months, mostly related to Bible illustration. If you're interested enough in the subject to want to read every post, the best way to access them is via the 'Archives' list in the right hand column.

Was Samson muscular?

This may seem like a strange question to ask, but I came across an internet article, part of which criticized Bible illustrators for depicting Samson as "a man with great muscles". A quote from the article follows...

"In the world, every comic book hero is always trying to do supernatural things with his super powers. Every hero in movies and books are always showing off their super powers. That is why even the children’s bible illustrators draw Samson as a man with great muscles. Delilah and the Philistines continually asked him where his strength lay. They could not figure it out! That means he must have looked quite ordinary, otherwise they would not have asked".

On the surface of it, it seems like a reasonable assumption to make, but the author is missing an important point; We need to remember that the acts of strength displayed by Samson were far above anything that had ever been seen before. These were feats of strength that were beyond imagination!

If Arnold Schwarzenegger fought and killed 1,000 Philistine soldiers, armed only with the jawbone of an ass, or pushed over an enormous Temple housing over 1,000 people with his bare hands, we would be in awe of his strength! We wouldn't say "He was able to do that because of his great physique!" The point is, the size of Samson's muscles, whether large or small, were no indication of his actual strength. People were amazed by his feats of 'supernatural' strength! Strength that was beyond man!

I personally think that Samson would have been well built. His hands for instance would have needed to be fairly large just to grip those huge heavy gates of the city of Gaza that he carried up the hill, and the balance needed for such a feat would have required fairly large feet too.
The fact is, Bible artists love to draw Samson the way they do! and those of us who were brought up on a diet of DC & Marvel comics take any opportunity to draw musclebound heros! I would need a lot more to go on than the quote above before I would consider drawing Samson with the physique of Woody Allen!

Incidentally, If you happen to be a movie producer about to make a 'Samson' movie, you could do a lot worse than casting French rugby player Sébastien Chabal (below) in the title role!

Sébastien Chabal with his baby daughter. photo © Daily Mail 2007

Mad Bible Artists!

As a teenager, I was an avid reader of Mad magazine! My all time favorite 'Mad artist' was Mort Drucker.
His caricatures were superb and you can't help noticing his influence on many of the 'Mad' artists that followed.

It may surprise you to know that Mad magazine has had it's share of Bible artists too! The most recent one being Dennis Jones who illustrated the best selling 'See With Me Bible'. If you like Cartoon style Bible illustrations then this Bible is for you! His character designs really are superb, and full of humor!

Dennis Jones is not the only 'Mad' Bible artist. I recently came across an article about Basil Wolverton.
Basil Wolverton was one of the original artists at Mad magazine in the 50's. His Bible art concentrated on the 'End times' and is more apocalyptic in nature, (not for the faint hearted!) You can view his Bible art here.

If anyone knows of any other 'Mad Bible artists' please leave a comment.

above image © Mad magazine 2007

Blind Bartimaeus

The latest set of Bible pictures to be added to the 'Bible Picture website' tells the story of the healing of blind Bartimaeus. The story takes place on the outskirts of Jericho.

Jericho had the ancient title of 'City of Palm trees' referring to the abundance of palm trees in the area, so remember to add palm trees when illustrating one of the many stories that take place here. Jericho is believed to be the second oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, and has been described as a "lush green oasis in the desert". The fertile soil of Jericho, which once made it famous for its groves of balsam, spice and date palms, was apparently due to the skillful irrigation of earlier times. For this reason Josephus refers to it as the "divine district".

Just like today, those who beg chose the busiest thoroughfares to position themselves in. Many Jews met in Jericho before traveling to Jerusalem for the passover celebrations, so the road leaving Jericho became a popular spot for beggars. Bible artist William Hole, who visited the Holy land to gather references for his Bible pictures, noticed that blind beggars had their begging bowls fastened to their waist by a cord. Presumably to deter potential thieves. It's reasonable to assume that this practice was passed down from ancient times.
In his book 'The Life of Jesus of Nazareth' Hole points out that blindness in Palestine during this period was "grievously common, the proportion of those afflicted being one in every hundred of the population".

In picture 3, Bartimaeus has discarded his blanket, (Mark 10: 50), and is kneeling at the feet of Jesus. The act of discarding his cloak is very significant as it was his only possession. (He had forsaken all to follow Jesus!) This cloak would have been his only protection from the cold at night, and his only shade from the hot sun during the day. So important was a poor man's cloak that the Bible, (in Exodus 22: 26-27), sets down strict regulations regarding its use as property. It states that even if this garment has been pawned, it must be returned to its owner before sun down, for "What else will he sleep in".

I've heard, although I've not checked it out, that begging in Bible times was a recognized profession for those who were unable to support themselves, (e.g. those who were blind and lame etc), and that beggars wore a cloak that identified them as beggars, a kind of official uniform! This made the discarding of this beggars uniform an act of faith on the part of Bartimaeus, trusting that he would no longer need it. I'm not sure if Josephus mentions anything about this. I would be interested to know if there is any evidence to suggest what color a beggars cloak might have been.

In picture 4 we see Jesus walking away in the distance. the Bible says that Bartimaeus followed Him in the way. Notice that the road that Jesus took was the road to Jerusalem, and the cross! Bartimaeus was one of the few followers of Jesus who was ready to follow Him all the way to the cross.

There are four pictures in this set which gives us a new total picture count of 695!
The next picture set I will be working on is a new version of the Nativity, which (God willing), should be ready in a couple of weeks or so. We do already have Bible picture sets of the Nativity for those who can't wait, but the new ones will be in the new (more detailed) style.

Posts on other Bible stories
The Rich Young Rular
Zacchaeus
Crucifixion part 1
Crucifixion part 2
On the road to Emmaus
The Nativity
Raising Lazarus
Woman taken in Adultery

For Sale, 'The Bible Story'

I've just received an email from a Sue Hammond who informs me that she has the full set of 'The Bible Story' for sale! (issues 1-29). This is the complete set and I believe that they are in the original binder.

This collection is a must have for Bible illustrators, and complete sets don't come up for sale often. The 'Bible Story' magazine was published by 'Look & Learn' in the sixties and contains some great illustrations, (especially the ones by Jack Hayes, see sample above). More about the Bible Story magazine here.

Sue is looking for £30 for the set which is very reasonable and the postage will cost £12. which I am assuming is within the U.K. So an international buyer would need to check out the international shipping costs with Sue. Buyers in the U.K. might be able to collect.
Anyone who is interested can email me, and I will pass on Sues email address. Don't leave it too long though, this will sell quickly!

above image is © lookandlearn.com

Guest Bible Artist interview #2

Keith Neely

Being a full time Bible illustrator is probably one of the rarest, if not THE rarest occupation on the surface of the planet! Keith Neely has been doing just that for the last 4 years and has kindly agreed to do an online interview with the 'Bible illustration blog'.
Keith lives in Indiana, U.S. with his wife Roberta. They have 5 grown children and 7 grandchildren, (with 2 more on the way!)
Keith and his team have almost completed 'The Illustrated ICB Bible' for U.S. publisher Thomas Nelson.

Keith, when did you start illustrating as a career?
After receiving my BFA from Art Center College of Design in CA in1972 I worked at Disney, Christian Brothers Visual Communication, an Advertising agency in Chicago, I even taught Advertising Illustration and Advertising Design at BIOLA College, La Mirada, CA. In 1981, I pretty much settled into Free Lance Illustration.


Is 'The Illustrated ICB Bible' completed, and how long have you been working on it?
We started in December 2003 and we should be finished in the summer of 2008.There will be 7,692 full color illustrations so it’s taking a little time. The 4 Gospels, Acts, Genesis and Exodus are out in individual paperbacks and the entire New Testament is out in hard cover.

7,692 pictures, Wow! That must be some kind of world record! Do you work alone or do you share the task?
I have some great talented people working with me. Dave Miles (artist@davidmiles.us), and James Balkovek (fineart@uninets.net), who is doing all of the drawings for the Old Testament.

There are a lot of Illustrated Bibles out there, what makes your Bible different from the rest?
All the other Illustrated Bibles are actually selected stories, re-told, from the Bible. During the 35 years I’ve been illustrating Sunday school materiel, I often wondered why the actual and complete Bible wasn’t illustrated. I suppose publishers felt that actual scripture would be over a child’s head so they simplified it for them and left out the less exciting stories, which would make a Bible storybook too heavy for a child to carry around any way. I believe The Word of God speaks to children as well as adults and that God had a purpose for including the “less exciting” stories and that I shouldn’t take the responsibility of deciding what scriptures children should not see. Don’t hear me say the other Children’s Bibles don’t have their place; in fact I know God has been talking to kids though them for years (including me) and many of them are beautiful like Jeff Anderson’s “Graphic Bible”. So, in answer to your question, “The Illustrated ICB Bible” is the ONLY illustrated Bible. Your readers can see for themselves for FREE at: ThomasNelsonillustratedBIBLE.com


I came across 'the Gospel of John' on the web (ThomasNelsonillustratedBIBLE.com), and I noticed that there was no way to buy the book at that site. What is the purpose of the site then?
I wanted the Gospel to be available to kids, and adults, all over the world for FREE.Thomas Nelson, the publisher of 'The Illustrated ICB Bible' series, agreed to allow us to set up the site knowing that it would cost them sales for the same reason.

How long will it have taken you to complete 'The ICB Illustrated Bible'?
About 5 years.

You've already mentioned Jeff Anderson. What other Bible illustrators have inspired you over the years?
Michael Dudash ( www.cmdudash.com ) and  Ron DiCianni ( www.tapestryproductions.com )

Does illustrating the Bible take up all your time, or are you working on other projects also?
I still do a few Sunday school jobs from time to time for old friends and I have some ideas for future projects but 95% of my time is dedicated to finishing this Bible.

Keith reads the Christmas story proof pages to the Grandkids, (below).


What do you find challenging when illustrating Bible stories?
Trying to find the balance between historic accuracy and perceived accuracy (what kids think is accurate because they have seen it in art for years). For example, Biblical people probably sat on pillows on the floor and ate at low tables (Roman style) or on the floor (eastern style) but we grew up seeing them sitting in a chair and eating at a table (Rembrandt style). So what is an Illustrator to do? You don’t want to confuse the Kids or draw attention away from what’s happening in the story and yet it should be accurate. The editor, the boss, will be happy to tell you what to do. When I’m the boss (a new experience for me) I go for perceived accuracy. After all, I’m doing the Bible not a history book. If something is going to suffer, I would rather it be Historical truth, not God’s Spiritual truth. It’s too bad there is a conflict at all.

What advice would you give to other Bible illustrators?
Hang in there! If anything should be illustrated (made more clear and understandable), it’s God’s word. A photograph of a model just doesn’t work because it doesn’t allow for your imagination to make an illustration of a person, actually that person instead of the model. So there will always be a need for Biblical Illustrators.

Keith, many thanks for your time!
Above images are © Keith Neely/ Thomas Nelson 2007

Related posts:
Interview with Jeff Anderson
Interview with Diana Shimon
Interview with Dr Leen Ritmeyer