Description

In this devotional there are two basic parts. The first is called “the reading.” An analysis of art is known as a “reading” because it is intended to tell a story. In this part of the devotional, Kelly will provide the needed items of background that will help you to read the painting.

The second part is the contemplation. Kelly will give you some guidance, but she really wants you to engage with the painting and let it speak to you. Examine the painting, notice the details, read the accompanying passages of Scripture and see where the artist is taking the story, and you will be surprised that you experience the story of Jesus in a fresh new way.

We cover twenty different paintings in the whole devotional. You can use them however you like, three for every week of the Lent season will complete the twenty before Easter. Thanks for joining us on this tour of Lenten art.

Before the emergence of the printing press and the Bible written in the language of the people, most didn’t have access to the Scriptures outside of sermons, and art. Paintings served as the vehicle for many to experience what many of us now experience when reading an inspiring portion of Scripture and sensing the voice of God speaking to us. You will come to see that the masterpieces aren’t only great works of art, but incredible expressions of spiritual truth. You should also be grateful for your possession of a complete and fully accessible copy of the Scriptures.

Kelly is an educator and I was a pastor. In those roles Kelly and I have had our perspective enriched by our journey into art. Kelly has always loved art and it was translated into a tool to use in education. Her interest has shown me that art is essentially a sermon on canvas. As I began to look at art it became apparent that the way to understand art was similar to the way we attempt to understand the Bible. Art needed exegesis. There is a need to understand context, and symbolism and how those were used to tell the gospel story. There is a language to art. If you want to know more about that you can visit kellybagdanov.com and specifically the article entitled “Entering The Conversation That Is Art” where she will introduce you to the concept that “Art is a visual language, and to appreciate art fully we must learn its language. Here we will use the tools that artists use to help decode the visual language of art.”

Leading Up to the Cross

1. Enrique Simonet – Then He Wept 25 min
2. Anthony Van Dyck – The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem 20 min
3. Peter Paul Rubens – Feast of Simon the Pharisee 20 min
4. El Greco – Christ driving the Traders from the Temple 20 min
5. Jacopo Tintoretto – Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples 25 min
6. El Greco – The Last Supper 25 min
7. Giovanni Bellini – Agony in the Garden 30 min
8. Giotto – Kiss of Judas 25 min
9. Fra Angelico – The Mocking of Christ 25 min
10. Caravaggio – The Denial of Saint Peter 20 min
11. Titian – Christ Carrying the Cross 15 min
12. James Tissot – Simon the Cyrenian Compelled to Carry the Cross with Jesus 20 min
13. Peter Paul Rubens – Raising of the Cross 20 min

CRUCIFIXION THROUGH RESURRECTION

1. Matthias Grunewald – The Isenheim Altarpiece 20 min
2. James Tissot – What our Lord Saw from the Cross 16 min
3. Rogier van der Weyden – Deposition of Christ 20 min
4. José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior – Remorso de Judas 10 min
5. Andrea Mantegna – The Entombment of Christ 17 min
6. Raphael – The Resurrection of Christ 18 min
7. Anastasis Fresco at Chora