This collection of artwork from European comics master Sergio Toppi focuses on illustrations of biblical characters he drew during his lengthy collaboration with the journal Il Giornalino. Hundreds of character portraits and key scene illustrations from both the Old and New Testament are presented in Toppi’s inimitable pen-and-ink style.
Master artist Sergio Toppi depicts iconic scenes from the most widely read scripture in the world.
Sergio Toppi’s work has been hailed as an influence by such artistic masters as Sean Gordon Murphy and Walter Simonson. See his amazing vision for The Bible across many beautiful illustrations of biblical characters drawn during Toppi’s lengthy collaboration with the journal Il Giornalino. Hundreds of character portraits and key scene illustrations from both the Old and New Testament are presented in Toppi’s inimitable pen-and-ink style.
From the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis through the many moving character tales throughout the Old Testament to the gospels and tales of the apostles in the New Testament, this stunningly illustrated volume will give new life and visual reference for some of the most familiar passages in the Bible.
Sergio Toppi was an Italian illustrator and comics author from Milan. Toppi's art style is known for its sophisticated compositions and an unmatched ability with hatching. Young Toppi left his medical studies in the early 50's to pursue a career in illustration, which lasted until his death at age eighty. His illustrations were featured in many Italian newspapers, magazines and books. Toppi also developed a comics career since the middle of the 60's. His body of work in comics is mostly composed of short stories on a wide range of subject matters, often in a historical or fantasy setting. Toppi's stories appeared in a number of Italian comics magazines, from the ones devoted to kids such as Il Corriere dei Piccoli and Il Giornalino, to those targeting a more mature or larger audience, like Sgt. Kirk, Linus, alter alter, Corto Maltese, L'Eternauta, Comic Art, Orient Express. For the latter magazine Toppi created in the 80's his only recurring comics character, called Il Collezionista (The Collector).
Toppi did some illustrations based on certain stories or characters in the Bible. Here they are presented with the germane passage, when appropriate. Some others are just depictions of some of the important characters. The art is great, but not as amazing as in his other work which incorporates landscapes and more creatures real or imagined. It struck me as interesting that he chose to depict some of the most barbaric stories, and yet did them without showing much blood or violence. I don’t know if I’m right, but it almost seemed as if he was trying to show the young people, for whom this work was commissioned, that the Judeo-Christian’s holy book is full of genocide, infanticide, xenophobia among other not-so-“Christian” values.
As always, breath-taking work by one of the best illustrators of the past decades. Toppi created poetic, rich and inspiring vignettes to illustrate some of the better known passages from the Bible. A must have for any fan of Toppi.