Imaging the Word

Among the most popular tales of the Celtic monks of Ireland is the story of St. Brendan. St. Brendan was an Irish monk living in the 6th century. According to legend, he and fourteen monks set sail from Ireland in a small ship known as a coracle or  curragh , in search of the legendary "Island of the Blessed." The details of his fantastic journey, recorded in the 9th-century tale, the  Navagatio , or "The Voyage of St. Brendan," survive in nearly 120 manuscripts and was immen

In our Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus announces his desire to set the world on fire, to ignite a movement that would spread and ultimately enflame the whole world. Set against the backdrop of Jesus' ardent ambition, Garth Brooks' hit song from the 90s challenges those who wish to "stand outside the fire."  In the emotional and inspirational music video, a high school student with Down syndrome named Brandon decides to not participate in the institution's Special Olympics b

In light of the feast day of John the Baptist’s birth (June 24) and our Gospel lesson of his beheading this Sunday, London’s National Gallery has provided a great way to immerse yourself in his story—through art! The museum has produced a ten-video series called  Saint John the Baptist: From Birth to Beheading , in which Professor Ben Quash, director of the Centre for Arts and the Sacred at King’s College, joins Dr. Jennifer Sliwka, curator of art and religion at the National

LECTURE: “The Problems and Possibilities of Visual Theology:The Ascension as a Case Study”  by Jonathan A. Anderson With Ascension Day coming up on May 29 (today!), it’s timely to share this talk given by Jonathan Anderson from a few years ago at Duke Divinity School, where he worked as a postdoctoral associate of theology and the visual arts from 2020 to 2023. Anderson explores a handful of images depicting the Ascension of Christ, a particularly challenging subject because

In our effort to learn about and appreciate the world-wide embrace of Christianity, here are three artworks by Christians on the other side of the world--one contemporary Indian painting and two recordings of Arabic hymns from our brother and sister in the Middle East. Jyoti Sahi (Indian, 1944-), He Who Steps Over-The Tandavan , 1975 In He Who Steps Over—The Tandavan , Sahi draws on Hindu iconography to give us a dancing Christ whose movement over death supplies the primal rh

Frank Wesley (Indian, 1923-2002), As it Began to Dawn LISTEN: “The Women Prepare the Spices (Song of Songs 8)” by Katy Wehr, a setting of Song of Songs 8:6–7, 13–14, on And All the Marys (2018) O set me as a seal upon thy heart O set me as a seal upon thine arm For love is strong, strong as death, my love And jealousy is cruel as the grave Its flashes are the living flame of a blazing fire That cannot be drowned out in a flood All earthly gold in exchange for love Would be ut

Antonello da Messina (Italian, ca. 1430–1479),  Christ Crucified , 1475 This painting is striking for its strong verticality, which, by elevating Jesus so far above the ground, gives it a certain solitariness. Antonello composed the picture with a low viewpoint so that we, like John the apostle on the right, also have to look up to view the crucified Christ.  LISTEN :  “Staff”  by Josh Compton, on  Awake, Awake  by A Ship at Sea (2012)   As they looked upon the staff That Mos

James Tissot (French, 1836-1902) is largely remembered for his scenes and portraits of the upper-middle class, but, during the 1880s he had a religious awakening and produced a number of works inspired by the New Testament. In 1885, he had what he referred to as an “epiphany” and “revelation” that lead him on a pilgrimage to cathedrals in France and to create a series of 35 scenes from the life of Christ.   During this religious decade, Tissot did multiple versions of the Pro

On Ash Wednesday, we traditionally read a portion of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew's Gospel that includes Jesus' teaching on alms-giving, prayer and fasting. In the lesson, Jesus encouraged his followers to engage in all three, but he also cautioned them not to do so with the motive of being seen by others. The BibleProject has recently published a short animated video that helps to explain this teaching for adults and children alike. BibleProject is a nonprofit in Por

In honor of this being the last day of Black History Month, we share with you an educational, edifying and eye-opening documentary on the long history of Christianity in Africa. This feature-length film takes an in-depth look at early African Christianity and its enduring heritage in African diaspora communities in America, dispelling the notion that Christianity is exclusively a 'white man’s religion.' Director Christopher Lamark and his team interview historians, religious

This Sunday, the last Sunday in the Epiphany season, is focused on Jesus' Transfiguration, which provides us with a vision with the glorified Christ before entering Lent. Here are two videos which explore the theological implications of the Feast, with special attention to its depictions in art and iconography.   This video records a discussion from the Princeton Scala Foundation conference that took place in April 2023 with the title, “The Transfiguration: Glory and Grace in

Emil Nolde (German, 1867–1956),  Dark Red Sea , ca. 1938 Mon Dieu, protégez-moi, mon navire est si petitet votre mer si grande! Lord, help me . . . Because my boat is so small, And your sea is so immense.   This anonymous prayer collected from a Breton sailor—or fisherman, as some anthologies cite—is found in Émile Souvestre,  Les derniers Bretons  (The Last Bretons), vol. 1 (Paris: Charpentier, 1836), p121. Though “boat” and “sea” were likely meant first and foremost literal

The Theological Virtues: Faith, Charity, Hope Italian (Umbrian) Painter, Italian This  Sunday’s lectionary reading  from the Epistles is 1 Corinthians 13:1–13, which presents the three "theological virtues." In this art, each of these virtues are represented by young women, accompanied by an attribute: at the feet of Faith a dog, a common symbol of fidelity; at the feet of Charity a pelican symbolic of Christ's sacrifice; and at the feet of Hope a phoenix, symbolizing Christ'

Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season in many Christian traditions, but it is also observed as celebrating the Visit of the Magi (Luke 2). In the West we have few traditions surrounding this Feast (King Cake, anyone?). But in Eastern (Orthodox) Churches, Christians commemorate the day with a surprising custom.   In  Greece , Epiphany (Jan 6) is a public holiday, and is focused not on the Visit of the Magi but rather marks the Baptism of Jesus Christ. In the Blessing

Considered the leading painter in the region of Emilia-Romagna, Correggio painted the “Assumption of the Virgin” fresco inside the Romanesque Cathedral of Parma. Peter Heidelberg/Shutterstock By Michelle Plastrik 10/14/2024 Ceilings are often referred to as the “fifth wall” in today’s interior design world, but decorative schemes for ceilings are nothing new. The illusionistic style of ceiling frescoes known in Italian as “di sotto in sù,” meaning “from below to above,” can b

Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 ,  Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 13, 2024–January 26, 2025: “ Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350  examines an exceptional moment at the dawn of the Italian Renaissance and the pivotal role of Sienese artists—including Duccio, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini—in defining Western painting.   In the decades leading up to the catastrophic onset of the plague around 1350, Siena was the site of phenomenal artistic i

LUKOVA, Czech Republic — A 14th-century church in the Czech Republic that was once in ruins is getting a new life from tourists who want to see the eerie visitors from beyond the grave. In 2012, art student Jakub Hadrava used St. George’s Church in the village of Lukova as the location for his senior arts thesis. He filled the unused church’s pews with ghostly figures, made from plaster casts of live models draped in white cloth. The effect is chilling. He called the work “My

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, 1618-1682),  The Holy Family with a Little Bird , c. 1645–1650 The great Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was the youngest of fourteen children of a Sevillian barber, Gaspar Esteban, and his wife, Maria Peres. In 1627, his father died, and a year later came the death of his mother. Because his elder sisters and brothers had already grown up and left home, the ten-year-old Bartolomé was adopted into the family of his aunt, who was m

Jean-Franҫois Millet (French, 1814–1875),  The Angelus , 1857–59   The Angelus  is a traditional Christian prayer whose name comes from its opening words in Latin, “Angelus Domini” (The angel of the Lord). For centuries it was prayed by the faithful three times a day—at 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m.—the times announced by the ringing of bells from church towers. In the 19th-century, Millet famously painted two peasant farmers at dusk pausing from their labor in the fields to bow t

"André Kamba Luesa (Congolese, 1944–1995),  La résurrection  (The Resurrection), 1992 In this scratched painting from Congolese artist Luesa, the risen Christ bounds victoriously over the pit of hell—using his cross like a pole vault! The flaming abyss has been conquered, cleared. Having crossed over from death to life, Christ brings humanity with him. That’s why the men, women, and children lift high their hands in celebration. His victory is ours!   The Gospel of Matthew d