Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 7h

The Psalter was the fundamental devotional text of the Middle Ages, and our exhibition of the week on Psalm 27 features three different ones.

Click here to read the comparative commentary:

thevcs.org/lord-my-ligh...

Psalm 27
The Lord is my Light
Commentaries by Frederica Law Turner

1 2

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 1d

Do not forget to take a close look at some of the remarkable details in the manuscript's decorated borders!

Click here to find out more:

thevcs.org/lord-my-ligh...

UNKNOWN ENGLISH ARTIST
Psalm 27 (26 Vulgate), initial showing the Anointing of David with armies, from the Ormesby Psalter, 1250–1330, Illuminated manuscript, 377 x 250 mm, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford; MS Douce 366, fol. 38r, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS Douce 366, fol. 38r, Photo: ©️ Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 1d

The Ormesby Psalter is the most sumptuous manuscript in this week's exhibition on #Psalm 27.

In the historiated initial D, the prophet Samuel pours oil over the head of the kneeling David. Above, God descends from Heaven, carrying a blue shield emblazoned with a gold cross.

2 1 4

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 3d

The initial in this illuminated psalter depicts David twice:

In the top half, a tonsured cleric holds a lighted candle, extending his right hand towards the naked king. In the lower half, an angel defends the king against a group of armed men.

thevcs.org/lord-my-ligh...

UNKNOWN ENGLISH ARTIST [OXFORD]
Psalm 27 (26 Vulgate), initial showing scenes from the life of David, from the Cuerden Psalter, c.1270, Illumination on vellum, 293 x 198 mm, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; MS 756 fol.40v, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

1

Reposted by The Visual Commentary on Scripture

British New Testament Society @bntsoc.bsky.social · 5d

New from @thevcs.bsky.social - Bible and Art Daily will take you on a series of journeys through the world of Scripture and the history of art. Watch the exclusive preview by @benquash.bsky.social here: www.youtube.com/shorts/Mpy9w...

Bible and Art Daily: Exclusive Preview

YouTube video by The Visual Commentary on Scripture VCS

www.youtube.com

2 3

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 5d

Our exhibition of the week on Psalm 27 features three medieval psalters.

Psalters made in the Mosan region of the Netherlands expanded their response to the words of the #psalm with a typological image of Christ healing the blind man.

Find out more:

thevcs.org/lord-my-ligh...

UNKNOWN BELGIAN ARTIST [LIÈGE]
Psalm 27 (26 Vulgate), Initial showing Christ healing the Blind Man, from a Psalter, c.1290–1305, Illumination on vellum, 160 x 110 mm, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; MS M.155 fol. 22v, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

1

Reposted by The Visual Commentary on Scripture

David B. Gowler @dgowler.bsky.social · 5d

I mentioned these Hogarth murals in my @thevcs.bsky.social Good Samaritan essay and almost included them in my The Parables after Jesus book. Glad they are now open to the public!

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 5d

Restored Hogarth murals at London hospital open to public for first time

St Bartholomew’s hopes 18th-century satirist’s two large-scale paintings will become a must-see for art fans They had remained almost unseen for 300 years, but now two of William Hogarth’s masterpiece murals are available to the public for the first time. The North Wing at St Bartholomew’s hospital in London, which contains The Pool of Bethesda and The Good Samaritan – two large-scale murals by the British painter – has opened after a £9.5m restoration project. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

3 1 3

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 7d

Take a better look at Sassetta's painting in our exhibition on Matthew 10:16–36 and Luke 12:2–12, 49–53:

thevcs.org/sheep-among-...

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 7d

Today is St Francis of Assisi's feast day.

In this panel by Sassetta, we see the young saint standing naked under a colonnade in front of his raging father, Pietro Bernardone. Bishop Guido of Assisi shields #Francis while imploring his enraged father to restrain himself.

SASSETTA
Saint Francis renounces his Earthly Father, 1437–44, Egg tempera on wood, 87.5 x 52.4 cm, The National Gallery, London; Bought with contributions from the Art Fund, Benjamin Guinness and Lord Bearsted, 1934, NG4758, Courtesy National Gallery London

1 2

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 9d

On this day, read about these scapegoats in our exhibitions on Leviticus 15–18 and Matthew 27:1–10:

thevcs.org/scaping-sin#...

thevcs.org/death-judas#...

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 9d

Leviticus 16 follows with the priestly instructions for the Day of Atonement, better known as #YomKippur.

In the same chapter we read about the scapegoat, famously painted by William Holman Hunt, but also depicted by James Tissot.

WILLIAM HOLMAN HUNT
The Scapegoat, 1854–56, Oil on canvas, 86 x 140 cm, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight; LL 3623, Bridgeman Images

JAMES TISSOT
Agnus-Dei: The Scapegoat (Agnus-Dei. Le bouc émissaire), 1886–94, Opaque watercolour over graphite on grey wove paper, 256 x 171 mm, Brooklyn Museum; Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.265, Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA / Bridgeman Images

1 1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 10d

In this film, VCS Director @benquash.bsky.social interviews the legendary American composer Steve Reich.

They discuss the profound role of the Bible in transforming both the subject matter and style of Reich’s music.

Click here for this 'Creative Conversation':

thevcs.org/creative-con...

Creative Conversations: Ben Quash with Steve Reich

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 12d

Have you watched @benquash.bsky.social in conversation with Harmonia Rosales?

Harmonia's roots in Yoruba culture have inspired her engagement with biblical stories and artistic traditions as conversation partners for her work.

Click here to watch our film:

thevcs.org/creative-con...

Creative Conversations: Ben Quash with Harmonia Rosales

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 13d

Our Exhibition of the Week is called 'Treasures in Heaven' and is on Matthew 13:44–52.

It features a fifth-century Roman mosaic, a fourth-century mosaic in Aquileia, and an icon by Fr. Serafim Aldea.

Click here to read the comparative commentary:

thevcs.org/treasures-he...

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 15d

“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matt. 13:52)

St Thaney's story models ‘new things from old’ in another way. Read about this week's third work:

thevcs.org/treasures-he...

FR. SERAFIM
St Thaney – Protector of the Abused, 2017, Egg or acrylic on board, 26.5 cm x 19.3 cm (large version), Mull Monastery, Isle of Mull; Courtesy Fr. Serafim Aldea

2

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 16d

To a modern eye, this detail from a 4th-c. mosaic seems to show angels catching fish. To an affluent ancient Roman viewer, it would probably recall seascapes that they had seen in luxury villas.

Read about this mosaic in our exhibition of the week:

thevcs.org/treasures-he...

UNKNOWN ARTIST
Fishing scene, 4th century, Mosaic, Basilica Patriarcale di Santa Maria Assunta, Aquileia; Cameraphoto Arte, Venice / Art Resource, NY

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 18d

This week's exhibition is on Matthew 13:44–52 and is called 'Treasures in Heaven'.

We first take a look at this fifth-century mosaic in which the three Magi find the Christ child, seated on a throne, beneath the star that has guided them thus far:

thevcs.org/treasures-he...

UNKNOWN ARTIST
Adoration of the Magi, mosaic on the triumphal arch of the nave, 5th century, Mosaic, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome; Luisa Ricciarini / Bridgeman Images

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 19d

Happy #RoshHashanah!

During the Jewish New Year festival pomegranates are traditionally eaten in hopes of prosperity and abundance in the year ahead.

Read about Israeli painter Reuven Rubin's pomegranates in our exhibition on Psalm 72:

thevcs.org/long-live-ki...

REUVEN RUBIN
Pomegranates, 1942, Oil on canvas, 22.9 x 35.8 cm, The Jewish Museum, New York; Gift of Ambassador and Mrs. Benson E.L. Timmons III, 1981-20, ©️ Rubin Museum Foundation; Photo by Richard Goodbody, Inc. The Jewish Museum, New York / Art Resource, NY

1 2

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 22d

The third work in this week's exhibition is Rubens' interpretation of the meeting of David and Abigail.

Abigail has dismounted from her donkey and is kneeling on the ground, pointing to the loaves of bread that the servants have brought with them.

thevcs.org/abigail-wife...

PETER PAUL RUBENS
The Meeting of David and Abigail, c.1630, Oil on panel, 46.4 x 68 cm, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.; Bequest of Lore Heinemann in memory of her husband, Dr. Rudolf J. Heinemann, 1997.57.8, Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

5

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 24d

Guido Reni paints David standing confrontationally in front of Abigail.

This is a moment of spiritual realisation: David understands that YHWH has sent this woman to show him the path of justice, and to direct him away from the exacting of retribution.

thevcs.org/abigail-wife...

GUIDO RENI
The Meeting of David and Abigail, c.1615–20, Oil on canvas, 156.2 x 163.8 cm, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA; Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., 71.524, Courtesy Chrysler Museum of Art

3

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 26d

This illumination in the so-called Crusader Bible is one of very few works to depict not only the encounter between David and Abigail, but also the subsequent events involving Nabal.

Find out more in this week's exhibition, 'Abigail, Wife of Nabal':

thevcs.org/abigail-wife...

UNKNOWN FRENCH ARTIST [PARIS]
Abigail Cools David's Wrath, Nabal Terrified, Nabal's Death, from The Crusader Bible (The Morgan Picture Bible), c.1244–54, Illumination on vellum, 390 x 300 mm, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; Purchased by J.P. Morgan (1867–1943) in 1916, MS M.638, fol. 33v, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 27d

Our Exhibition of the Week is called 'The Narrow Gate'.

Written by artist Zara Worth, it features her own work 'Think of a door (temptation/redemption)', as well as works by Derek Hirst and Hélio Oiticica.

Find out more by following the link:

thevcs.org/narrow-gate#...

Matthew 7:13–14, 22–23; Luke 13:22–30
The Narrow Gate
Commentaries by Zara Worth

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · 29d

The installation 'PN1 Penetrável' by Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica is composed of narrow doors, echoing Matthew 7:13–14 and Luke 13:22–30.

Click here to read about the third artwork in our exhibition of the week:

thevcs.org/narrow-gate#...

Hélio Oiticica
Penetrável PN1 (installed at Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro, 2008), 1960, Oil on wood, 203 x 150 x 150 cm, Centro Municipal de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro; Courtesy Hélio Oiticica Project

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · Sep 10

Derek Hirst’s golden door, 'Puerta Grande De Oro', is beguiling and evasive. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is similarly evasive when asked in the course of his teaching who will gain entry to the kingdom.

Read about this work in our exhibition 'The Narrow Gate':

thevcs.org/narrow-gate#...

DEREK HIRST
Puerta Grande De Oro, 1998–99, Mixed media on board, 101 x 101 cm; ©️ Derek Hirst Estate, courtesy Flowers Gallery

1

The Visual Commentary on Scripture @thevcs.bsky.social · Sep 8

Is your phone a portal to paradise, or eternal torment?⁣
⁣
Artist Zara Worth explores this and similar questions in her work, 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳, and in our exhibition of the week, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘎𝘢𝘵𝘦:

thevcs.org/narrow-gate#...

ZARA WORTH
Think of a door (temptation/redemption), 2022, LED lighting and imitation gold leaf on polythene, Dimensions variable; Image courtesy of the artist