Bassano’s Adoration of the Kings
January 4th 2025
The Adoration of the Kings”, Jacopo Bassano, 1542, National Galleries Of Scotland. Have you ever spent some time with this painting? It is in the National Gallery of Scotland. It was painted by Jacobo Bassano, an artist from the Veneto,
XOMATOK’S STAIRWAYS
December 14th 2024
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/10/xomatok-lima-staircases/ I was looking for something joyful and I found this image. I showed it to some young men and one said, “It’s like acid!” Another said “It’s LGBTQ!” I showed it to some mature religious women and they
Gijón’s St John of the Cross
December 7th 2024
“St John of the Cross”, Francisco Antonio Gijón, c.1675, National Gallery of Art Washington. I saw this polychrome wooden sculpture of St John of the Cross in the exhibition “The Sacred made Real” a number of years ago in London.
Graham Sutherland’s Christ in Glory
November 30th 2024
“Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph”, Graham Sutherland, 1962, Coventry Cathedral. In November 1940 Coventry Cathedral was destroyed by bombs. The gothic ruins were conserved and the plans for a new cathedral specified this image of Christ in glory showing
Dalí’s Christ of St John of the Cross
November 23rd 2024
“Christ of St John of the Cross”, Salvador Dalí, 1951, Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and Museum. Like the One depicted, this painting has had a very varied reception. When it was shown in London and then purchased by Glasgow Corporation
Brian Whelan’s Saint Cecilia
November 16th 2024
“St Cecilia Patron Saint of Music”, Brian Whelan, now in the Music Room, St Paul’s on the Green, Norwalk, Connecticut, US. St Cecilia hasn’t usually been shown at a session in a bar, but this is how contemporary artist Brian
STANLEY SPENCER’S RESURRECTION OF SOLDIERS
November 9th 2024
“The Resurrection of Soldiers” Sir Stanley Spencer, 1928-29, Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere, near Newberry. This huge canvas covers the entire east wall of the chapel. At the bottom you can see the the altar and the sacristy doors. The chapel
Chagall’s Solitude
November 2nd 2024
“Solitude” Marc Chagall 1933, Tel Aviv Museum of Art Throughout his long career the Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) returns again and again to the motif of a Jewish man holding the scroll of the Torah. Usually the Torah is
EL GRECO’S BURIAL OF THE COUNT OF ORGAZ
October 26th 2024
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, El Greco, 1586-88, Parish Church of San Tomé, Toledo. A christian knight is lowered into his tomb by two clerics arrayed in gold, while the nobility of Toledo attend. Above them is
