My prior Art posts can be found HERE.
How do we move away from being a civilization that produces art that causes comments like, “my five year old could make this,” back to being one that creates beauty and inspires deep questions? We must reject modernity and embrace tradition.
Let’s study art history together.
The Sermon on the Mount
| Artist | Carl Bloch |
|---|---|
| Year | 1877 |
| Medium | Oil on copper |
| Dimensions | 40.9” x 36.2” inches (104 x 92 cm) |
| Location | The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark |
There is something very captivating about this painting. The Danish master depicts an important moment from the ministry of Jesus and manages to make it contemporary and inviting. We as the viewer get to feel seated in the crowd, though further back, with our eyes drawn to Jesus and his striking blue and red clothing. These colors are the traditional colors associated with Christ and His mother Mary, in Christian iconography, but they feel even more vibrant than usual in Bloch’s piece here.
When your eyes move away from Christ, to the people around Him, you notice a lot of variety in their responses. Some seem desperate and worshipful. But others seem contemplative or even skeptical. The diversity of the crowd creates a feeling of “all options are open to me too” for those who view the work. It draws you in but isn’t pressuring you. If you compare the people to Christ, the painting seems to communicate a message to its audience.
