CARAVAGGIO’S SACRIFICE OF ISAAC
February 27th 2021
“Sacrifice of Isaac”, c. 1603, Carravaggio, Ufizzi, Florence Caravaggio shows the terrible moment when Abraham has put forth his hand and taken the knife to slay his son (Gen 22:10). But an angel on the left stays his hand and
STANLEY SPENCER’S CHRIST IN THE WILDERNESS – THE SCORPION
February 20th 2021
In a bleak wasteland, Christ sits on the bare earth and looks down at the scorpion which he holds on the palm of his right hand. He holds the scorpion most carefully, with one hand under the other. His downward
GIOVANNI BELLINI’S CHRIST BLESSING
February 13th 2021
“Christ Blessing”, Giovanni Bellini, c. 1500, Kimbell Art Museum, Forth Worth, Texas. You can view the painting in higher resolution at https://www.kimbellart.org/collection/ap-196707 The Risen Christ raises his right hand in blessing. The landscape tells us that it
MANTEGNA’S ST MARK THE EVANGELIST
February 6th 2021
This small painting of St Mark the Evangelist owes much to the Eastern tradition of icon painting. But unlike in an icon, there is a fictive stone frame with inscription written on a fictive piece of folded parchment attached.
