THE BIBLE IN PAINTINGS: #1, God creating Adam

Bing Images ^ | c. 2000 BC -- c. 90 AD | Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

Here is the Bing page showing various painters' conceptions of God's creation of Adam. Several are serious works worthy of interest.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I am surveying "Bible art" for my own amusement (at the Spirit's prompting) and thought others might enjoy it, too. Various artists' conceptions enrich my own thoughts about biblical incidents. My intent is to proceed methodically left-to right, Genesis to Revelation. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.), and these artists have done so and their works can assist us. But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven or eight seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive.

[Hebrews 11:6]

If you wish to be pinged to future such posts, please so indicate.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The bulk of these posts will be two-dimensional, but we'll run into plenty of sculpture, too: Michaelangelo's David, Rodin's Head of John the Baptist, etc.

[SkyDancer]

Why is it in some painting where you can see both God and Adam they both have navel’s.

[Maudeen]

Thanks for your post. FYI.. .I am enjoying listening to the AllAudio Bible on YouTube. . .really good dramatized version and has a pic for each chapter plus you can read along, too. It looks like the majority of it was done 9 - 11 years ago. It certainly has enhanced my Bible Study. https://www.youtube.com/user/ALLAUDIOBIBLE

[Hebrews 11:6]

Artistic incoherence.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for your referral--I'll have a look-and-listen. I prefer reading Scripture, but perhaps the Spirit has something new for me.

[Maudeen]

Quite often I find myself thinking. . ."Wow, is that in there? I missed it!"

You can read the scriptures and listen at the same time. I found it when I was trying to get pictures for scriptures for a Sunday School class. Are there better depictions out there now. . .yes, but the dramatization is really good. I have several versions but I really like this one.

[SkyDancer]

I’ve always wondered about that.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I've already clicked and will try one today.

BTW, have you watched any of The Chosen?

[Hebrews 11:6]

Angels and cherubim, too.

[Maudeen]

No but I’ll check it out.

[SkyDancer]

Weird that too!

[Hebrews 11:6]

They've never seen anyone without a navel, and they've failed to think through what they're doing. Happens constantly to everyone; rather, everyone does it constantly. Careful thinking is hard.

[Hebrews 11:6]

You’ll thank not only me but also its producers and our Lord, who clearly is behind it.

[TonyM]

I understand that these artist meant well but I believe their images of God, Jesus, Angels, the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and even Noah and the Ark are so far from what was reality that it gives people the wrong idea about who they are. God is not an old white haired bearded man, the serpent in the garden was not really a snake, angels don’t have wings, and the ark did not resemble a child’s bathtub toy.

[SkyDancer]

Yeah, some people don't think outside the box like, do folks who are created have navels? Like does God who wasn't does? Then too, the statue of David. His male part is not circumcised as in Jewish tradition.

Gotta stop thinking about things like this.

[Maudeen]

I just checked it out. I don’t do the ap stuff, google, etc. and turned my TV off for the past 5 years but season one is available pm DVD along with a devotional guide. https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen/store? I’m in.

[Hebrews 11:6]

so far from what was reality that it gives people the wrong idea

Conceding your point in its entirety, many still find substantial value in such artistic impression, far beyond their Middle Ages usefulness to an illiterate peasantry. They are just that, "impressions," which the viewer must consider; but to the extent they spur that viewer truly to consider a Bible character or incident, they're of use to the Spirit.

By way of example, I offer Rodin's life-sized Head of John the Baptist

When I saw that at LACMA I was completely stunned, staggered; two decades later I'm still floored.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Glad to hear it. You and everyone else have never seen anything like it. I'm like a child: when I find something I love, I re-read or re-watch again and again and again. I've seen all eight episodes of Season 1 about ten times and started again last night....