Renaissance Biblical paintings app
Our app has about 1,000 paintings for mobile phones. Additionally, each painting has a link to the bible reference that inspired it. Below is a sample of some images and an exposition of each.
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1. Batoni - The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32
Renaissance Biblical paintings app
Our app has about 1,000 paintings for mobile phones. Additionally, each painting has a link to the bible reference that inspired it. Below is a sample of some images and an exposition of each.
VIDEO
SLIDESHOWS FEATURE
1. Batoni - The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32
I think this is a beautiful depiction of a father's love for his child. The son was greedy and impertinent, doing what is unconscionable, demanding one's birthright while the parents are living; I would say unforgivable.
This is what is so wonderful about the parable, our father in heaven will forgive us for anything for as long as we ask and are remorseful; remember, we are his creation and there is nothing he cannot see.
The older son, like many of us, was self-righteous, unhappy about God's mercy to all humanity, and more so, the worst of us.
I have always thought about this, wondering if say Mother Teresa will be treated similarly to someone receiving God's mercy on their death bed, after a life devoid of God. My solution has been that we are headed to a Kingdom, where there is a hierarchy. The more righteous are closer to the King. For me, even cleaning the ablutions is sufficient.
2. Battista - Handing the keys to St Peter, Matthew 16:19-21
"And may the gates of Hell never overcome the Church". Despite that gnawing feeling that evil is winning, always remember the words of St Paul, where evil abounds (as seen in the press, social media, internet, etc), grace abounds the more.
Evil cannot exist in the absence of good; evil is a parasite of good. The press, social media, and the internet, simply focus on evil, and the good is left for you and me to personally find.
From my personal experience, it is easy to become despondent; evil seems to be winning everywhere. The trick is however to do what little we can, one day and one minute at a time. Sowing goodness and charity in every waking moment. We may not see it, but like-minded people exist the world over, and these small acts of charity do eventually pay off by changing people's minds, one person at a time.
3. Bergers - Adoration, Matthew 2:1-12
The mystery of the incarnation is that of God becoming man. He could have been born to royalty, but he chose a simple carpenter and a simple housewife. Additionally, he was born in the lowliest of places, warmed by the heat emanating from the animals that were in the manger at the time. Many paintings and pictures show a rather rosy image, but the thought of the mud, the stench of the animals, and possibly the stench of humans, since bathing was a rarity, was more the likelihood of things.
4. Carravagio - The incredulity of St Thomas, John 20:24-31
Even as I write a small commentary on each painting, I do sometimes catch myself wondering whether all that is in the bible is gospel. Indeed we rely on oral tradition, written tradition, and historical writings supporting the same. I have always found that one of the simplest ways to authenticate biblical teaching, is to practice what it teaches.
The teachings of Jesus for instance, first require study, to understand them (many do not), and thereafter practice. Jesus' teaching has changed the world in a myriad of ways, and one can actually make a sweeping statement that western civilization as we know it, is based on a Jesus World view or if you want to be more general a Christian worldview.
5. Carravagio - Conversion on the way to Damascus, Acts 9:1-19
First, you fall off your self-righteous horse, and then you start again. A beautiful story of self-righteousness turned to be downtrodden, then to being a Saint. God bless you Saul, our St Paul, the Disciple to the gentiles!
6. Cavalier - Christ was taken prisoner, Matthew 26:47-56
This happened in the garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss. In the painting, St Peter cuts off the ear of Malthus, a servant of the high priest. Jesus would, however, have none of it, and restored the ear, whilst also agreeing to be arrested; it was after all part of the larger design.
It took the apostles until after the resurrection and ascension for them to slowly understand that the Lord's mission was not a militaristic one, but one that required self-sacrifice, for the well-being of humanity. They themselves would also endure the ultimate sacrifice, as they propagated the message of Christ.
7. Ciseri - Behold the man, John 19:1-20
Pontius Pilate presents the Lord to the people. They bay for his blood, despite all the good works done during his ministry. If you feel betrayed by anyone, don't forget this moment. If our Lord could endure it, so can you!
8. Eugeniusz- Divine Mercy, Romans 9:1-33
Also known as the fountain of mercy. Red is for blood, that is the blood of our Savior, while the white depicts the water from his side that washes over us; thus the fountain of mercy. The image appeared to Sister Faustina, a nun in Poland, shedding light on the Lord's mercy.
9. Fetti- Veil of Veronica, Isaiah 53:3-5
Christ, the suffering servant of all humanity. Church Tradition has it that St Veronica wiped his face, as he carried His cross headed to calvary. His face was imprinted on the cloth and it is preserved in the Vatican to this day. Want to know more? Google it- Veil of Veronica!
10. Gandolfi- Josephs dream, Matthew 1:16-25
I have always thought of Joseph as my personal hero. He must have agonized terribly while trying to decide what to do with his pregnant wife, in his mind at the time supposedly by another man, yet still trying not to dishonour her; what a man! The painting depicts the angel's explanation of the divinity of her pregnancy.
Enjoy!
