The
Bible In 20th Century Art
Author:
Nicholas Usherwood & Paul
Holberton
Publisher:
Pagoda Books
111
pages, including: Forward,
Introduction, The Plates, The Artists, Glossary, and Additional
Acknowledgements
Nicholas
Usherwood, at the time of publishing this volume, was a foremost
British art critic and historian. He worked at the Royal Academy in
London, and as Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the British Museum.
He wrote an informative Introduction to this volume.
Paul
Holberton worked on many books as both art historian and
editor—including Sir David
Piper’s four-volume Encyclopaedia
of Art, and
at the time of publishing this volume, he
was completing a doctorate
with the Warburg Institute.
He wrote a helpful commentary on the artists. The Glossary was compiled by Julius Nelki, which will be appreciated by readers
without a background in art.
This
volume consists of the works of 40 artists, profiling both Hebrew
Bible and New Testament stories—most
of which are paintings, with a few exceptions, like the collection of
wood engravings of Paul Nash, depicting the creation story
of Genesis chapter one.
This reviewer was not familiar with many of the artists; hence
I appreciate, for the most part, the authors’ selection of artists.
However, female artists are definitely under-represented in the
volume—there is only one,
Paula Modersohn-Becker, and
her oil on paper painting,
The Good Samaritan.
With
the exception of Paul Nash’s wood engravings; all of the other
works are accompanied by each of the biblical texts; cited from the
Good News Bible.
During
this sobering time of the coronavirus pandemic; I highly recommend
reading and viewing this volume
and others
containing works of art in
order to lift readers’ spirits; as well as appreciate God’s gift
of artistic creativity; bringing joy and hope to humankind.
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