A lecturer at the University of Bergen said: “Knowing the Bible is key to understanding the culture one is part of, and thus also to understanding oneself. Not knowing the Bible, on the other hand, is a form of cultural illiteracy” [1].

The reason for this statement is that there is no other book that has affected our culture as much as the Bible. In this three-part series of articles, we will show how the Bible has influenced painters, writers, composers and musicians.

We will start with the Nordic painters.

Carl Heinrich Bloch (1838–1890)

Danish painter known especially for his historical and religious paintings. His early works show rural motifs from everyday 19th century life, but after having traveled Europe one can see a shift towards religious motifs. In 1865, Bloch was commissioned to paint 23 scenes from the life of Christ by the Frederiksborg Castle Church, where they are still located today.

The painting shown is entitled The Annunciation, and was painted in approx. 1890.

Albert Edelfeldt (1854–1905)

Finnish-Swedish naturalist painter known for his beautiful paintings of historical and religious events. Before starting on a paining he would do several sketches and also took photographs. One of Edelfeldt’s most famous paintings is the image of Jesus in a birch forest with a kneeling Mary Magdalene in front of him.

The painting shown was painted in 1890.

Axel Theophilus Helsted (1847–1907)

Danish painter known for his figurative and realistic style, considered one of the greatest Danish artists of all time. At the beginning of his career he distinguished himself as an outstanding portrait painter, but after a time in Italy he expanded his repertoire of motifs. Helsteds faith was strenghened after a trip to Palestine, leading to a number of paintings with religious motifs.

The painting shown is entitled Jesus heals a child, and was painted in 1891.

Per Hörberg (1746–1816)

Swedish painter known for his portraits and paintings of peasant life, along with etchings and woodcuts done in a strong personal style. He painted 87 altarpieces. Hörberg is considered one of Sweden’s foremost artistic figures. Countess Fredrika Aurora De Geer of Finspång was one of Hörberg’s foremost supporters and protectors. The countess gave Hörberg many large commissions and also let him take part in her influential circle of friends at Finspång castle.

The picture shows an altarpiece depicting Jesus’ resurrection, painted in 1806.

Julius Kronberg (1850–1921)

Swedish painter considered to be one of the foremost painters of his time. Between 1875 and 1878 he stayed in Munich, where he came into contact with a number of young Norwegian painters, such as Markus Grønvold, Christian Meyer Ross, Kitty Kielland, Eilif Peterssen, Harriet Backer and Erik Werenskiold. In Munich he also came in contact with Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), who persuaded him to paint his famous portrait, now hanging over the desk in his study at the Ibsen Museum in Oslo. In 1903, Kronberg painted a beautiful painting of Jesus speaking in the temple.

Painting: Jesus at twelve in the temple. Luke 2: 41–52 Painted in 1903.

Hans Heyerdahl (1857–1913)

Heyerdahl was a proponent of realism in Norwegian art and has painted several Norwegian cultural personalities, such as Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun. In 1877 he painted “Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise”, hanging today in the National Gallery. The picture is said to be a modern history painting, where the depiction should grip the viewer in the same way as an authentic, historical document. This work of art won him a gold medal at the World’s Fair in Paris.

The painting shown is entitled Adam and Eve Expelled from Paradise, painted in 1877. Oil on canvas. The National Gallery.

Eilif Peterssen (1852–1928)

Norwegian painter known for the design of the Norwegian national coat of arms featuring the Norwegian lion, from 1905. Peterssen is considered one of the Skagen painters. In 1877 he painted Judas Iscariot, or the kiss of Judas, which shows Judas betraying Jesus by kissing him and thus signaling to his fellow conspirators to take him prisoner. The picture hangs today at the National Gallery.

The painting shown is entitled Judas Iscariot, painted in 1877. Lillehammer Art Museum.

Asta Nørregaard (1853–1933)

Norwegian painter best known for her portraits, made with great technical skill and richness of detail. She was a student of Eilif Peterssen from 1875–79.

In 1881, Nørregaard made her debut with the painting L’attente de Christ (Christ Comes), which shows the old and the poor waiting for Jesus. Today the painting is in the collection of the National Museum. In 1882 she was commissioned to do the altarpiece for Gjøvik church. In 1920, Nørregaard received the King’s gold Medal of Merit.

The painting shown was painted in 1881. Dimensions: 93.5 x 115.1 cm.

Edvard Munch (1863–1944)

Edvard Munch is considered one of the greatest Norwegian artists of all time. We may not associate Munch’s paintings primarily with biblical motifs, but Munch’s faith was with him all his life. One of his paintings shows the motif Jesus at Calvary. Several texts have been written about Munch’s Christian faith and how the Bible influenced his work. It is said that Munch had three books on his bedside table; The Bible, Hans Jæger’s fra Kristiania-Bohemen and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot.

The painting shown is entitled Calvary, painted in 1900. Oil on canvas 80 x 120 cm. The Munch Museum.

Sources

[1] Framtida.no

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