Art and the Bible

For almost two millenia the Bible was the primary source for the visual arts in Europe. Gain an overarching visual vocabulary of the Bible’s place within the visual arts. From the creation of the world in the book of Genesis to the end of all things in Revelation. We will examine current biblical criticism and archaeology to give context to both the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and related texts. We will then explore how biblical stories have been depicted in a variety of artistic periods. By the end of this class, you will have gained an ability to more easily identify stories recounted in the biblical narratives.


DELIVERY MODE

Online Delivery


COURSE OUTLINE

  • The origins of the Bible: We will begin with an introductory outline, contextualizing the Bible within the framework of modern biblical scholarship and archaeology.
  • The Hebrew Bible in art: We will explore the depiction of stories from the biblical creation of the world as recounted in The Book of Genesis, through to the vivid Apocalyptic literature of the books of the prophets, Ezekial and Daniel.
  • The New Testament in art: We will explore depictions in art of the life of Jesus as portrayed in the four gospels; the deeds of the Apostles as recounted in The Book of Acts and the culmination of all things as described in The Book of Revelation.


PLANNED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Gain a broad overview of the books and stories of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament and begin to be able to visually recognise their depictions in art.
  2. Gain an understanding of the historical context out of which a given biblical story emerged and how it has been reappropriated for the visual arts.
  3. Visually analyse a work of art.


SUGGESTED READING

  • The Authorized Version / King James Bible, 1611 edition.
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, ed., Martin Flint Abegg (Harper Collins Publisher: 2002).
  • David Bentley Hart, The New Testament: A Translation (Yale University Press: 2018).
  • A New English Translation of the Septuagint, ed., Albert Pietersma and Benjamin G. Wright (Oxford University Press: 2007).
  • Diane Apostolos-Cappadona, A Guide to Christian Art (T & T Clark: 2020).
  • Chiara De Capoa, Old Testament Figures in Art (J Paul Getty Museum: 2004).
  • David R. Cartlidge and J. Keith Elliot, The Art of the Christian Apocrypha (Taylor & Francis Ltd: 2001).
  • Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman, The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts (Simon and Schuster: 2002).
  • Robin Margaret Jensen, Understanding Early Christian Art (Routledge: 2000).
  • Lee L. Levine, Visual Judaism in Late Antiquity: Historical Context of Jewish Art (Yale University Press: 2013).
  • John Romer, Testament: The Bible and History (Konecky & Konecky: 2004).
  • George Ferguson, Signs and Symbols in Christian Art (Oxford University Press: 1961).
  • Stefano Zuffi, Gospel Figures in Art (J Paul Getty Museum: 2003).


When:
Thursday 2 Sept 2021
1.00 PM - 3.00 PM

Where:
WEA Sydney
72 Bathurst Street