Category: Art & Music

Visual art opening and exploring the texts we “read, study, learn and inwardly digest.” Music and notes about music used to open and celebrate the texts read in worship.

B Epiphany 4, Art for Readings for January 29, 2012

GIOTTO di Bondone
(b. 1267, Vespignano, d. 1337, Firenze)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

Legend of St Francis: 10. Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo
1297-99
Fresco, 270 x 230 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi
Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

B Epiphany 3, Art for Readings for January 22, 2012

GIOTTO di Bondone
(b. 1267, Vespignano, d. 1337, Firenze)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

Jonah Swallowed up by the Whale (on the decorative band)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

Humorous detail from the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
Click to explore this impressive interior.

B Epiphany 2, Art for Readings for January 15, 2012

El GRECO
(b. 1541, Candia, d. 1614, Toledo)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

Apostle St Philip
1610-14
Oil on canvas, 97 x 77 cm
Museo de El Greco, Toledo

Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

Click to explore El Greco’s Apostolados: the Series of Christ and the Apostles.

B Epiphany 1, Art for Readings for January 8, 2012

MORONI, Giovanni Battista
(b. 1525, Albino, d. 1578, Bergamo)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

The Baptism of Christ with a Donor
1550s
Oil on canvas, 104 x 113 cm
Private collection

Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

B The Holy Name, Art for Readings for January 1, 2012

REMBRANDT Harmenszoon van Rijn
(b. 1606, Leiden, d. 1669, Amsterdam)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

The Circumcision in the Stable
1654
Etching, 94 x 144 mm
(3.7 x 5.7 in.)

Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

B Nativity, Art for Readings for December 25, 2011

A Guide to Byzantine Icons
Many thanks to Fr. Rondeau for this link.
Click to open this extensive site and explore icons.

The Nativity
Russian Icon
School of Novgorod
XVth century

Click to open an interactive illustration of this icon’s symbolism.

B Advent 4, Art for Readings for December 18, 2011

GIOVANNI DI TURINO
(b. ca. 1384, Siena, d. ca. 1455, Siena)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

Madonna of the Magnificat
1420
Polychrome wood, height 133 cm
Sant’Agostino, Siena


Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc. Use maximum magnification (200%) to see “The Magnificat” carved in Mary’s mantle hem.

B Advent 3, Art for December 11, 2011

CLOUET, Jean
(b. 1485/90, Bruxelles, d. 1541, Paris)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

Portrait of François I as St John the Baptist
1518
Oil on wood, 96 x 79 cm
Privare collection

Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.



Click for Clouet’s portrait of Francois I in normal garb. Click on the image to enlarge/fit page etc.



Francois I of France was a contemporary of Henry VIII. He seems to have attempted at times to steer a conciliatory course during the Reformation, before eventually pursuing tactics typical of a monarch of his times. Click to open the Wikipedia article on Francois I.

B Advent 2, Art for December 4, 2011

LEONARDO da Vinci
(b. 1452, Vinci, d. 1519, Cloux, near Amboise)
Click to open Web Gallery of Art Artist Biography and to explore other works by this artist.

St John the Baptist
1513-16
Oil on panel, 69 x 57 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Click to open Web Gallery of Art display page. Click on their image to enlarge/fit page etc.

Do you have a favorite Advent hymn?

Well, do you? Here is one of my favorite Advent hymns beautifully sung by Enya.

Use the comment section to share your favorite Advent Hymn.