The Bible In Paintings: SHEPHERDS, FIRST TO SEE THE SAVIOR, Part 1

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Bible In Paintings 2
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRECIATING AND APPLYING GOD'S WORD

SHEPHERDS,
FIRST TO SEE
THE SAVIOR

L U K E
CHAPTER 2

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests.

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.”

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

1
CAMILLO FILIPPI
"Adoration of the Shepherds"
Typical title

2
FRANCESCO FONTEBASSO

3
ANTON RAPHAEL MENGS

4
GIUSEPPE BARTOLOMEO CHIARI

5
ALESSANDRO TURCHI

6
PIETRO TESTA
Source

7
BERNARDO STROZZI

8
GEORGES DE LA TOUR
Source

9
BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO
Source

10
JOHANN HEISS
Source

11
PETER PAUL RUBENS
Source

12
PETER PAUL RUBENS
Source

13
MATTHIAS STOMER
Source

14
MATTHIAS STOMER
Source

15
GUIDO RENI
Source

16
GUIDO RENI
Source

17
GUIDO RENI
Source

18
Detail

19
GUIDO RENI
Source

20
LUIS DE MORALES
Source

21
ABRAHAM BLOEMAERT
Source

22
GERRIT VAN HONTHORST
Source

23
GERRIT VAN HONTHORST
Source

24
GERRIT VAN HONTHORST
Source

25
PEDRO ORRENTE
Source

26
GIUSEPPE VERMIGLIO
Source

27
BARTOLOMEO BASSANTE
Source

28
BONIFAZIO VERONESE
Source

29
ANTONIO BALESTRA
Source

30
JOACHIM WTEWAEL
Source

31
ANTOINE and LOUIS LE NAIN
Source

32
PIETER DE GREBBER
Source

33
BERNARDO CAVALLINO
Source

34
GIACOMO CAVEDONE
Source

35
LIVIO MEHUS
Source

36
MARCO BENEFIAL
Source

37
LOUIS CRETEY
Source

38
TINTORETTO
Source

39
LUCA SIGNORELLI
Source

40
JEAN MICHELIN
Source

41
GASPARE TRAVERSI
Source

42
JAN BOECKHORST
Source

43
DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO
Source

44
BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO
Source

45
PHILIPPE DE CHAMPAIGNE
"The Adoration of the Shepherds"

46
DOMENICHINO
Source

47
GIOVANNI LANFRANCO
Source

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

48
MATTHAUS WALLBAUM
Source

To be continued…

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[Hebrews 11:6]

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[Hebrews 11:6]

SHEPHERDS ARE
FIRST TO SEE
THE SAVIOR

[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan. :-)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Adoring our Savior with you, Mary-Lou!

[etabeta]

Good morning! Favorites are #3 by Mengs, #8 by Georges de La Touue; #23 by van Honthorst; the splendid Ghirlandaio at #43 and finally the relief at #48.

For me the shepherds represent the sweetest part of the Nativity It shows the love of God for everyone and it reminds me of what a 19th c. Biblical scholar wrote: “”These men who watched the sheep meant for the slaughter received a divine message about the ultimate Lamb who would take away the sins of the world through His death and resurrection.”

[Red Badger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-QV_I-xseA

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hallelujah Chorus, informal version

[Hebrews 11:6]

For me the shepherds represent the sweetest part of the Nativity

I had not considered that previously, Alba, but you have certainly persuaded me. That is altogether lovely.

[Spaceman49]

“For me the shepherds represent the sweetest part of the Nativity It shows the love of God for everyone”

Amen to THAT! I think it is also very important to consider the fact that the news of the Saviour being born was NOT first revealed to the “Religious Leaders.” You might think that this astonishing event, the birth of the Messiah, would be told FIRST to the Chief Rabbai, who in turn would reveal it to the people. NOT so ! Something has changed - a new era had begun.

Jesus would often speak of Himself as the Good Shephard and His followers were His sheep who knew His voice. This event sets the stage for His Ministry as the Lamb of God.

[Hebrews 11:6]

You might also think that if those “religious leaders” had been up on their toes (considering the Bible predicted where and when), they would have beaten the shepherds (who needed an angelic annunciation) to the manger. Why hadn’t they welcomed Joseph and Mary when they first arrived in Bethlehem?

[spankalib]

I just love the way the artists depict light! Particularly Mengs in #3, and Reni in #19.
Van Honthorst is good in #22 & #23, and so is #46 & #47… Mengs just “glows” to me. Wonderful.

..and speaking of wonder…

Here we go! 50% have the ox/donk symbolism; even in the great Wallbaum (silver?) at #48 and FRONT & CENTER in Ghirlandaio at #43!
45% have the lamb/trussed lamb symbolism,
and 31% have the ‘flying scroll’.

#’s 4, 5, and 36 have all 3 symbols! (Most of them have two of the symbols)

Domenichino at #46 is magnificent for its ‘movement’. I’ve come to believe these works are meant to be studied, contemplated, and it feels like I could for hours!

The one that ‘got me’ in this batch is Strozzi at #7. Go look at it for a bit. The unsettling element is very prominent, isn’t it? Gloomily foreshadowing a foul death.

[spankalib]

The “cross” weave of the basket is prominent too.

[Hebrews 11:6]

a fowl death?

I am the farthest thing from being an artist, but if I were, and if I had Biblical events to illustrate, I hope I would find ways like Strozzi did to enrich my works spiritually for the viewers, so that folks like you, John, are blessed by them.

[spankalib]

*grins*

Notice how he used the light-stroke above the man's left shoulder to suggest a cross...and notice his finger is actually pointing, as if to delineate that "you too will someday 'hang'".

Remarkable, really.

[InkStone]

Happy Day to you Dan, and what wonderful responses, each of you!

You’ve chosen so many fine ones; again, I love the multiple submissions from the same artists.

#11 & #12 Rubens; similar yet the scene changes.
#22, #23 & #24 Van Honthorst- they’re like snapshots, taken a moment apart. New people step in, others turn, some are still. Surely, that’s how it was. #24 is almost a different style, yet the same painter- What flexible skills.

#46 Domenichino is remarkable; even several children and angels. Note many paintings show a lamb trussed...

Thank you Dan; these indeed beg further study.

[InkStone]

We can learn a lot from you. I’m looking more carefully now. Thank you.

[InkStone]

Very Well Said, and thank you for each of your submissions- they’re greatly appreciated.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I love the multiple submissions from the same artists.

In ten days we'll be fleeing to Egypt, and we'll see Orazio Gentileschi's three versions of the holy family resting, painted over the span of a decade-plus. It just kept nagging at him, I guess. Should I include the donkey, or not? If I don't, how do I arrange what is left?

By the same token, this is what differentiates Tissot and Doré. They never spend their effort repeating; rather, they move on to the next incident, and in doing so they've each produced several hundred biblical works.

[InkStone]

It’s a good mix Dan, just keep on as you’re doing. RE: Gentileschi’s works- yes, some topics touch us more deeply than others.

I really never knew Tissot or Dore’ until I found them here. Their muted tones may be nearer to the reality of those days; dye was expensive. Look forward to seeing more of them.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Look forward to seeing more of them.

Seldom do I post a thread where I don't find worthy contributions by one or both of them.