The Seven Last Words of Jesus, and the Painting That Shows What He Saw
Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. No single Gospel records all seven: Matthew and Mark keep one cry, Luke…
10 Last Judgment Paintings Before Michelangelo
Last Judgment paintings did not begin with Michelangelo. When he started work on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel…
Christian Symbols and Their Meanings: 40 Signs in Great Art
In the early third century, somewhere near the Vatican hill, a family in Rome buried a woman named Licinia Amias….
Bible Verses for Baptism and What to Write in a Baptism Card
At a Catholic baptism, the godparents promise, the priest pours the water three times, and a few minutes later everyone…
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz: El Greco’s Hidden Signature
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is the most famous painting by El Greco, the Cretan-born master who made…
The Prodigal Son in Art: 12 Paintings From the Departure to the Fatted Calf
Around 1635, Rembrandt painted himself in a tavern. He wears a plumed hat and a sword, he laughs over his…
Adoration of the Shepherds in 10 Luminous Paintings
The Adoration of the Shepherds is the moment in Saint Luke’s Gospel when the first visitors reach the newborn Christ….
Anima Christi Prayer: Words, Meaning, and the Story Behind It
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Few Catholic prayers are said by so many people, so quietly, and so often without…
Medieval Manuscript Art: 10 Breathtaking Illuminated Pages
Medieval manuscript art is the only branch of medieval painting that has come down to us with its colours intact….
Agnus Dei: 7 Famous Lamb of God Paintings, From Van Eyck to Zurbaran
The Lamb of God, in Latin the Agnus Dei, is one of the oldest and richest images in Christian art….