The Sacred Conversation
Artist: Giovanni Bellini
148o
Painting
This altarpiece was originally painted for the church of St Giobbe in Venice. It depicts the common religious theme of The Virgin Mary in consultation with a group of saints and a heavenly gathering. In this particular painting the saints depicted are, from left to right, St Francis, St John, St Job, St Dominic, St Sebastian and St Louis. At the base of The Virgin's throne sit three angels with musical instruments.
The Sacrifice of Elijah
Artist: Aert_Jansz_Marienhof
1651
Painting
King Ahab and the people of Israel had fallen away from the worship of the God, worshipping instead the pagan god, Baal, and God had punished them for this with a long drought. To resolve the deadlock, the prophet Elijah arranged a test or trial between God and Baal on Mount Carmel. The priests of Baal went first: they prayed long and earnestly to their god to ignite miraculously the sacrifice they had prepared for him, but all to no avail. Elijah then prayed to God to ignite 'his' sacrifice. His prayer was heard; King Ahab and his people returned to the worship of the one, true God and rain came, bringing an end to the drought. The kindling beneath a sacrifice on an altar is bursting into flames, miraculously ignited by God with a thunderbolt.
This oil on canvas measured H 46.7 x W 60.3 cm and is housed in the Bowes Museum in Barnard Catle, England,
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