As period pieces go, clearly Julian Fellowes Downton Abbey has been one of the best, and now we have the full movie sequel which picks up in 1927 where the TV series left off, with the full cast in tow. First of all the movie is beautifully filmed. It almost makes me want to move back to England. Almost. The rainy sequence reminded me why I wanted to leave. It is tricky business to do a film sequel to one... Read more
This is just another of the wonderful exhibits at the Museum of the Bible. Read more
So of the most beautiful and dramatic images from the Weidmann Bible are of the crosses…. Read more
Here is a very different image of St. Augustine with St. Roch (who???), and a dog and angel thrown in for good measure. The painting is by Juan de Flandes (Flemish, 15th century). St. Roch is a French saint who, much like St. Francis gave up all his possessions and ministered to the ill. The story goes he retreated into the woods to die, not wishing to infect anyone, and was ministered to by an angel and a dog, and... Read more
Salomon Koninck (17th century Dutch artist) depicts below Matthew writing his Gospel, with angelic help. This is often how the Evangelist were depicted in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the assumption being, they got the message directly from angelic messengers, whereas we know, as Lk. 1.1-4 says, they relied on human sources as the messengers. A French artist, Claude Vignon in the 16th century, presents us wit a striking painting of St. Jerome in his grotto in Bethlehem working on... Read more
A Flemish painting from the early 18th century depicts John of Patmos’ visions which led to the book of Revelation. Sometimes artists just give free reign to their imagination. One such Italian 17th century painting is supposed to depict Christ at the pool of Bethesda healing the paralytic but it is perfectly clear the artist was keen to depict a gigantic Roman or Turkish style pool or bath, and the main subject matter almost gets lost in the size and... Read more
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