The Bible In Paintings 17 — LOWLY SHEPHERDS ARE THE FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR! Part 1

Fine Art America ^ | c.2,200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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LOWLY SHEPHERDS


ARE THE FIRST TO


SEE THE SAVIOR


OF THE WORLD

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L U K E .. 2
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible

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Resources to CLICK:
To read LUKE 2 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
To see an ANIMATION of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

Harmony of the Gospels

5
B. C.
Bible Timeline

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LUKE, Chapter 2

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by CAMILLO FILIPPI
"Adoration of the Shepherds"
Typical title, except as noted

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANCESCO FONTEBASSO

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANTON RAPHAEL MENGS

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIUSEPPE BARTOLOMEO CHIARI

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ALESSANDRO TURCHI

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6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PIETRO TESTA

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7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BERNARDO STROZZI

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GEORGES DE LA TOUR

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOHANN HEISS

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PETER PAUL RUBENS

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PETER PAUL RUBENS

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MATTHIAS STOMER

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MATTHIAS STOMER

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GUIDO RENI

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GUIDO RENI

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
DETAIL

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DETAIL

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GUIDO RENI

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LUIS DE MORALES

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ABRAHAM BLOEMAERT

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GERRIT VAN HONTHORST

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GERRIT VAN HONTHORST

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GERRIT VAN HONTHORST

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23 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PEDRO ORRENTE

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24 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIUSEPPE VERMIGLIO

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25 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARTOLOMEO BASSANTE

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26 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BONIFAZIO VERONESE

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27 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANTONIO BALESTRA

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28 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOACHIM WTEWAEL

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29 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANTOINE and LOUIS LE NAIN

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30 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PIETER DE GREBBER

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31 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BERNARDO CAVALLINO

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32 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GIACOMO CAVEDONE

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33 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LIVIO MEHUS

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34 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by MARCO BENEFIAL

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35 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LOUIS CRETEY

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36 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by TINTORETTO

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37 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LUCA SIGNORELLI

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38 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JEAN MICHELIN

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39 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GASPARE TRAVERSI

40 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAN BOECKHORST
"The Adoration of the Shepherds"

41 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO, 1485
"Adoration of the Shepherds"

42 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANDREA MANTEGNA, 1455
"Adoration of the Shepherds"

43 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO, 1650
"The Adoration of the Shepherds"

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

44 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE
"The Adoration of the Shepherds"

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Bible in Paintings
LINKS TO ALL PAST EPISODES

THE OLD TESTAMENT

GENESIS GOD CREATING ADAM GOD CREATING EVE THE TEMPTATION OF ADAM & EVE ADAM & EVE HIDING FROM GOD GOD BANISHES ADAM & EVE CAIN AND ABEL GOD'S FLOOD & NOAH'S ARK THE TOWER OF BABEL GOD CALLS ABRAM ABRAM RESCUES LOT; MELCHIZIDEK SARAI, HAGAR & ISHMAEL ISAAC, THE SON OF THE PROMISE SODOM AND GOMORRAH GOD TESTS ABRAHAM ABRAHAM FINDS ISAAC A WIFE! JACOB & ESAU, Part 1 JACOB & ESAU, Part 2 JACOB & ESAU, Part 3 JOSEPH – DREAMS, AND REALITY JOSEPH – EGYPT, OR BUST! JOSEPH AIDS PHARAOH JOSEPH AIDS HIS BROTHERS EXODUS GOD PREPARES MOSES LET MY PEOPLE GO! PASSOVER! EXODUS! STAINED GLASS INTERLUDE - AMIENS STAINED GLASS INTERLUDE – CHARTRES PARTING THE RED SEA REJOICING IN SONG! MANNA! WATER FROM THE ROCK! Mt. Sinai #1 – GOD SHOWS OFF Mt. Sinai #2 – MOSES CLIMBS Mt. Sinai #3 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #4 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #5 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! Mt. Sinai #6 – 10 COMMANDMENTS! THE GOLDEN CALF, Part 1 THE GOLDEN CALF, Part 2 GOD SHOWS MOSES HIS GLORY MISCELLANY THE ARK OF THE COVENANT THE TABERNACLE LEVITICUS AARON’S CONSECRATION NADAB & ABIHU, TOASTED THIS & THAT NUMBERS Want PLAGUE with Your QUAIL? A SPY STORY KORAH’S SINKING FEELING AARON’S FINAL ADVENTURES THE BRONZE SNAKE, & THE CROSS JESUS EXPLAINS THE BRONZE SNAKE “GREATEST HITS” BALAAM AND HIS TALKING DONKEY MOSES ENTERS REAL PROMISED LAND JOSHUA RAHAB AND THE TWO SPIES ISRAELCROSSES THE JORDAN RIVER ISRAEL MARCHING AROUND JERICHO GOD FLATTENS JERICHO PAINTED BIBLES!!! – THE BOOK OF KELLS PAINTED BIBLES! LINDISFARNE GOSPELS PAINTED BIBLES!!! – HODGEPODGE SPECIAL EDITION – BEST COMMENTS! JUDGES THE SUN STANDS STILL! DEBORAH AND BARAK WIN A WAR JAEL'S TENT-PEG THRU NOGGIN TRICK GIDEON 1: ANGEL, ALTAR, FLEECE GIDEON 2-CHOICE TRUMPETS TRIUMPH GOD PROMISES SAMSON’S BIRTH SAMSON’S LION SAMSON GETS A WIFE: MARRIED LIFE! SAMSON LOSES WIFE, GETS REVENGE SAMSON’S TROPHIES SAMSON AND DELILAH, Part 1 SAMSON AND DELILAH, Part 2 SAMSON’S FINAL REVENGE MISCELLANY 2 MISCELLANY 3

RUTH RUTH, Chapter 1 RUTH CLINGS TO NAOMI RUTH GLEANS BOAZ CARES FOR RUTH RUTH PROPOSES, BOAZ ACCEPTS! BOAZ REDEEMS & WEDS RUTH: OBED! RUTH ART “SPECIALTIES” 1st SAMUEL HANNAH’S MISERY, AND HER PRAYER HANNAH’S MIRACLE SON, SAMUEL SAMUEL IN THE LORD’S HOUSE WITH ELI MISCELLANY 4 ARK, ARK — WHO’S GOT THE ARK? ARK, ARK — ISRAEL’S GOT THE ARK! STAINED GLASS EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Part 1 STAINED GLASS EXTRAVAGANZA!!! Part 2 ISRAEL DEMANDS A KING, GETS SAUL GOD REJECTS ISRAEL’S NEW KING SAMUEL MEETS DAVID SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID AS KING SAUL HIRES A HARPIST DAVID AND GOLIATH DAVID OR GOLIATH DAVID'S BIG, FAT HEAD SAUL ATTACKS DAVID DAVID RUNS FOR HIS LIFE DAVID SPARES SAUL’S LIFE – TWICE! DAVID, ABIGAIL, AND NABAL THE FOOL FEARFUL SAUL CONSULTS A WITCH SAUL DIES, JUST AS FORETOLD 2nd SAMUEL DAVID, THE NEW KING DAVID JOYOUSLY RETRIEVES THE ARK DAVID AND BATHSHEBA – & URIAH DAVID MURDERS TO COVER ADULTERY AMNON RAPES HIS SISTER TAMAR ABSOLOM MURDERS AMNON ABSALOM OVERTHROWS DAVID ABSALOM’S DEATH 1st KINGS WHO SUCCEEDS DAVID AS KING? DAVID IN STAINED GLASS MISCELLANY 5 GREATEST HITS! Volume 2 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 1 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 2 GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, Part 3 SOLOMON BEGINS GOD’S TEMPLE SOLOMON CONTINUES GOD’S TEMPLE SOLOMON FINISHES GOD’S TEMPLE THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 1 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 2 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA, Part 3 REVIEW, GENESIS THRU SAMUEL, Part 1 REVIEW, GENESIS THRU SAMUEL, Part 2 SOLOMON’S 700 WIVES, ETC., ETC., ETC. ISRAEL DIVIDES FROM JUDAH GOD SENDS RAVENS TO FEED ELIJAH 1 GOD SENDS RAVENS TO FEED ELIJAH 2 A GENTILE WIDOW FEEDS ELIJAH ELIJAH RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON ELIJAH vs. BAAL’S 450 PROPHETS ELIJAH, RAINING AND RUNNING Part 1 ELIJAH, RAINING AND RUNNING Part 2 THE LORD APPEARS TO ELIJAH 2nd KINGS ELIJAH'S CHARIOT OF FIRE, Part 1 ELIJAH'S FIERY CHARIOT-RIDE, Part 2 ELIJAH'S FIERY CHARIOT-RIDE, Part 3 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 1 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 2 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 3 ELISHA'S MANY, MANY MIRACLES, Part 4 KING JEHU & JEZEBEL'S DEATH BLOODY KING JEHU & QUEEN ATHALIA BOY KING JOASH, DEAD QUEEN ATHALIA ISRAEL REJECTS GOD, GETS BANISHED ASSYRIANS vs KING HEZEKIAH HEZEKIAH'S ILLNESS & FOLLY KING JOSIAH FINDS GOD & HIS WORD BABYLON CONQUERS JUDAH 1st CHRONICLES DAVID & HIS MIGHTY MEN "PRAISE THE LORD IN THIS MANNER"

EZRA THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 1 THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 2 NEHEMIAH THE JEWS RETURN FROM BABYLON 3 CHRISTMAS PROPHECIES THE CHARACTERS OF CHRISTMAS ESTHER THE KING CHECKMATES THE QUEEN ESTHER - IN THE HAREM, IN THE BED ESTHER, THE NEW QUEEN MORDECAI, HERO AND GOAT ESTHER – "IF I PERISH, I PERISH", Part 1 ESTHER – "IF I PERISH, I PERISH", Part 2 MORDECAI'S TRIUMPH ESTHER'S BANQUETS ESTHER FAINTS JOB GOD'S MAIN MAN: JOB JOB SUFFERS MRS. JOB MOCKS HIM JOB STILL HAS "FRIENDS" FRIENDS ACCUSE, JOB DEFENDS GOD INTERVENES, QUIZZES JOB PSALMS #8—HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME! #19–HEAVENS DECLARE GOD'S GLORY #22—"WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" #23–THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD #65—PRAISE AWAITS YOU, OUR GOD #69–SAVE ME, O GOD #104-PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL #105-GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD #136-HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER #147-SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD #148-PRAISE THE LORD PROVERBS SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 1-4 SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 6-24 SELECTED PROVERBS, Ch. 24-31 ECCLESIASTES A TIME FOR EVERYTHING SONG OF SONGS SONG OF SONGS—THE TEXT SONG OF SONGS—THE ART, 1 SONG OF SONGS—THE ART, 2 SONG OF SONGS—THE "ART", 3 ISAIAH THE DAY OF THE LORD "HERE AM I, SEND ME!" EZEKIEL Prelude–TRIBUTES TO EZEKIEL EZEKIEL'S FIRST VISION OF GOD THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES EZEKIEL'S VISION OF DRY BONES, 1 EZEKIEL'S VISION OF DRY BONES, 2 DANIEL Prelude - TRIBUTES TO DANIEL DANIEL & NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, 1 INTO THE FIERY FURNACE, 2 GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD KING HANDWRITING ON THE WALL DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 1 DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 2 DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN, 3 DANIEL'S VISION OF FOUR BEASTS DANIEL'S VISION OF RAM & GOAT JONAH Prelude – TRIBUTES TO JONAH ANGRY JONAH COOLS OFF WITH A SWIM WHEN SWALLOWED, REPENT AND PRAY!!! GOD COMPLETES JONAH'S RESCUE JONAH PREACHES, NINEVEH REPENTS! THE "MINOR" PROPHETS THE TWELVE "MINOR" PROPHETS ZECHARIAH Prelude – TRIBUTES TO ZECHARIAH ZECHARIAH'S FIRST FOUR VISIONS GOLD LAMPSTAND & TWO OLIVE TREES ZECHARIAH'S FINAL FOUR VISIONS ZECHARIAH'S PROPHECIES OF JESUS OLD TESTAMENT REVIEW REVIEW 1 – GENESIS thru EXODUS REVIEW 2 – NUMBERS thru SAMUEL REVIEW 3 – 1st KINGS THRU MALACHI

THE NEW TESTAMENT

THE FOUR GOSPELS JESUS' BIRTH & YOUTH JESUS' VERY INTERESTING GENEALOGY GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR ZECHARIAH GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, 1 GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, 2 GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR MARY, 3 MARY VISITS HER COUSIN ELIZABETH, 1 MARY VISITS HER COUSIN ELIZABETH, 2 MARY'S "MAGNIFICAT" PRAISES GOD THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST GABRIEL'S AMAZING NEWS FOR JOSEPH JOSEPH AND MARY WED JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM NO ROOM AT THE INN IT'S A BOY! Part 1 IT'S A BOY! Part 2 SHEPHERDS ARE FIRST TO HEAR OF THE SAVIOR

JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY JESUS' CRUCIFIXION JESUS' RESURRECTION ACTS OF THE APOSTLES THE EPISTLES REVELATION OF JOHN

PLEASE NOTE: All images are "hot-linked" from their source websites,
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[Hebrews 11:6]

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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
P A R T
T W O

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[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan! :-)

[stars & stripes forever]

Beautiful pictures. Thanks, Dan.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hi, Mary-Lou!

[Hebrews 11:6]

There’s a second helping of them tomorrow, Debbie.

[etabeta]

Many very beautiful paintings! Of note, the Ghirlandaio (#41), one of the greatest masters of the Early Italian Renaissance. The painting incorporates the journey of the Magi, seen in the distance on the winding road. Delicate beauty of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, the focal point of the painting. They are bathed in divine light emanating from within. The baby is on the edge of her mantle emphasizing the intimate relationship between mother and child and protecting him from the the small mound of wheat underneath, symbol of the Eucharist. The shepherd pointing to the child, his head turned to the other men, is a self portrait of Ghirlandaio himself. In the distance we see both Rome and Jerusalem, the two world empires, Hebrew and Roman, symbol of their power receding as the beginning of Christ’s new kingdom begins.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks to you, Alba, we now have a vivid understanding of that essay-disguised-as-a-picture. The only element I’m still curious about is that imposing stone trough. Its central prominence, inscription, and size all suggest to me that Ghirlandaio intended it as a symbol of a sarcophagus, looking ahead to the far end of the earthly sojourn of the Babe.

[spankalib]

Eta's baaaaack! Woot! Can I be the only one thinking; "Let's go on a 'field trip' to an art museum with eta!"?
I really enjoy the details you bring eta. Could the bird at the very bottom of the painting, close to Jesus, symbolize the Holy Spirit?

This scripture puts me in deep thought: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Just beautiful.

[Albion Wilde]

George de la Tour – #8 – so far ahead of his time! Simply beautiful. People probably heartily disapproved of his style at the time.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Why would people have disapproved?

[Hebrews 11:6]

Alba is our Treasure-in-Residence. Accompanying her through a museum would be sensational, indeed.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I placed Champaigne's last at #44 because it offers something the others do not: a realistic view of that situation's dynamics. Previously, Mary and Joseph received confirmations from angels and Elizabeth, but it had all been essentially private.

Now, suddenly, a band of incredulous shepherds shows up, unannounced. Yes, Mary was worshiping Emmanuel, as the rest of the pictures are careful to note. But Champaigne registers her focus on this unexpected intrusion that all but declares, "Your lives will never be the same." Now, I wish I had gathered the handful of images which show her noticing the shepherds, and put them together at the end.

[spankalib]

I found this:

Domenico Ghirlandaio was Italian but was influenced by Flemish painters (from the area of the Netherlands and Belgium). This is shown by the attention to details and the symbolic role of objects or people. Some of this symbolism is: the farthest city on the right is symbolic of Jerusalem; the dead tree is symbolic of its conquest; the left city is symbolic of Rome; on the left is a long procession of magi; the ox and donkey are symbolic of the Jews and Gentiles. There is an ancient stone coffin, symbolic of Jesus’ death with the inscription "Ense cadens soly mo Pompei Fulvi[us] augur Numen aitquae me conteg[it] urna dabit" referring to Fulvius, killed by Pompey the Great during the Roman conquest of Jerusalem, who prophesied that from a coffin a God will rise, a reference to the victory of Christianism over Paganism.

[etabeta]

It can be interpreted as that, presage of a future event. I have also read that the Triumphal Arch on the road, honoring Cassius Pompey the Great, the sarcophagus and the classical columns commemorate humanistic achievements throughout history. I have been always interested in symbolism in art and it is a pastime of mine to research as much as I can. It completes the narrative.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanking you both. I think this is probably the single artwork most analyzed through this series’ 245 episodes.

[etabeta]

In Christian art, birds were used as symbol of the “winged soul”. It goes back to the ancient Egyptians. You noticed also the black birds turned away from the child Jesus. They symbolize the darkness of sin. The young Jesus is often portrayed holding a goldfinch, associating the Incarnation with the Passion.

Thank you for your kind words, I am no expert in art but a passionate amateur.

[Hebrews 11:6]

etabeta, P.A.

[etabeta]

It is a beautiful painting. Love the protective arm of Mary around her baby, Joseph pointing Jesus to the astonished shepherds, the poor sacrificial lamb with its feet tied (presage of the future sacrifice of the Christ?). The “private” event is no more, the story is now unfolding according to prophecy.

[xp38]

Check out this video from One For Israel. I dare say the vast majority of Christians never knew the significance of those shepherds and the flock they watched over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5R4wOymh5Q&t=16s