The Old Testament Through 100 Masterpieces of Art

by Régis Debray, Benjamin Lifson (Translator)

Over the centuries, artists have sought to match the vividness, grandeur, and humanity of the Old Testament stories, creating a treasury of images for future generations. This collection of one hundred masterpieces draws together some of the most celebrated and resonant of these paintings. From Rembrandt's blending of the divine and the human in Jacob's Blessing to the drama of Tintoretto's Moses Striking the Rock, these works allow the reader to become immersed in the grand and universal themes of one of civilization's oldest narratives.
Accompanying each painting is a concise retelling of the Old Testament story that inspired the work. Many of the images are also supported by a brief commentary on how the episode is traditionally depicted, offering an introduction to the understanding and interpretation of biblical art. In combining images with accessible commentaries, The Old Testament Through 100 Masterpieces of Art provides a resource for students, museum visitors, and anyone interested in the relationship between art and religion in Western culture.

Genres: Art, Religion

222 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2003

About the author

Intellectual, journalist, government official and professor. He is known for his theorization of mediology, a critical theory of the long-term transmission of cultural meaning in human society; and for having fought in 1967 with Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara in Bolivia.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes, this book had pictures of truly incredible art. However, the commentary gave no insight into the Bible passages or the art that was inspired by them. The writer clearly had no interest in either topic, often giving untrue or incredibly vague comments about either the passage or the art in general, nothing interesting or helpful. One example, from the commentary about a painting called Belshazzar's Feast: 'Fate inviting itself to the banquet and an orgy turning into terror are dramatic themes that have been taken up by painters many times'. That's the entire commentary on the painting!

[Tylar Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat for an art resource, if you ignore the ignorant introduction and the authors interpretations/commentary that often doesn’t even align with the art piece being shown.