Symbolism in Religious Art By: John Bentz

Introduction Instead of doing a particular group for this assignment, I decided to target a specific part of art that has to do with religion. The area I am doing this project on is the parables. We are to live in good manners and these Biblical parables remind us of everyday situations.

Instead of doing a particular group for this assignment, I decided to target a specific part of art that has to do with religion. The area I am doing this project on is the parables. We are to live in good manners and these Biblical parables remind us of everyday situations.

Outline The parables that I am going to display art of and explain to the best of my knowledge are: The parable of the unmerciful servant The parable of the Sower. The parable of the Prodigal son. The parable of the mustard seed. The parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. The parable of the Talents.

The parables that I am going to display art of and explain to the best of my knowledge are:

The parable of the unmerciful servant

The parable of the Sower.

The parable of the Prodigal son.

The parable of the mustard seed.

The parable of the Pharisee and tax collector.

The parable of the Talents.

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Background (Matthew 18:21-35) A servant who was in debt to his master begged the master to have patience with him instead of getting rid of his family. The master did so, forgave him, and gave him more time. The servant then found a servant for him who was in debt. The servant demanded this guy to pay his debts while choking him. He did not give in and had him thrown in jail because he couldn’t pay him back.After seeing this, the master rebuked the servant and had him thrown in jail and tortured until he could pay back the debt. The final verse says’ “This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Background (Matthew 18:21-35)

A servant who was in debt to his master begged the master to have patience with him instead of getting rid of his family. The master did so, forgave him, and gave him more time. The servant then found a servant for him who was in debt. The servant demanded this guy to pay his debts while choking him. He did not give in and had him thrown in jail because he couldn’t pay him back.After seeing this, the master rebuked the servant and had him thrown in jail and tortured until he could pay back the debt. The final verse says’ “This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Images of this Parable The Unmerciful Servant Rembrandt Drawing Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam No date record http://www.biblical-art.com/artwork.asp?id_artwork =1501&showmode=Full

The Unmerciful Servant

Rembrandt

Drawing

Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam

No date record

http://www.biblical-art.com/artwork.asp?id_artwork =1501&showmode=Full

The Unmerciful Servant The Dalziel Brothers Date:published 1864 Type:Relief print on paper image: 140 x 108 mm on paper, print http:// www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid =999999961&workid=9500&searchid=4861&tabview=work

The Unmerciful Servant

The Dalziel Brothers

Date:published 1864

Type:Relief print on paper image: 140 x 108 mm on paper, print

http:// www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid =999999961&workid=9500&searchid=4861&tabview=work

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott 1878 http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/AINT0007.HTM

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott

1878

http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/AINT0007.HTM

The Parable of the Sower Background (Matthew 13:3-13) This parable tells the story through a seed that falls in the ground in several different terrains. It relates to life because it says a person who gains information and enjoys it for a short time is like a seed that is sown on rock. A seed sown in the thorns is like a person who receives the word but then gets choked basically by worry. The man who hears the word and understands it is the one that becomes fruitful.

Background (Matthew 13:3-13)

This parable tells the story through a seed that falls in the ground in several different terrains. It relates to life because it says a person who gains information and enjoys it for a short time is like a seed that is sown on rock. A seed sown in the thorns is like a person who receives the word but then gets choked basically by worry. The man who hears the word and understands it is the one that becomes fruitful.

Images of this Parable Albrecht Dürer, Date: c. 1503 http://www.textweek.com/art/sower.htm

Albrecht Dürer,

Date: c. 1503

http://www.textweek.com/art/sower.htm

Artist:Pieter Bruegel the Elder Date: 1557 Location: Timken Museum of Art http://www.textweek.com/art/sower.htm

Artist:Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Date: 1557

Location: Timken Museum of Art

http://www.textweek.com/art/sower.htm

More images of the Parable of the Sower Artist: Matthaeus Merian the Elder Date: 1625-30

Artist: Matthaeus Merian the Elder

Date: 1625-30

The Parable of the Prodigal Son Background (Matthew) This parable tells a story of a son who asks for his inheritance from his dad before he is dead. His dad gives it to him and the son leaves. The older son stays and “slaves for his dad”. When the younger son has used all his money, he works for a little bit of money then comes home. The older son is outraged when the dad accepts the younger son back, gives him the best of robes, and a big feast. The older son talks to the dad about it, but the dad is just happy his son is home and tells the older son to forgive.

Background (Matthew)

This parable tells a story of a son who asks for his inheritance from his dad before he is dead. His dad gives it to him and the son leaves. The older son stays and “slaves for his dad”. When the younger son has used all his money, he works for a little bit of money then comes home. The older son is outraged when the dad accepts the younger son back, gives him the best of robes, and a big feast. The older son talks to the dad about it, but the dad is just happy his son is home and tells the older son to forgive.

The Prodigal Son Feeding Swine. Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo Date: 1660s Type: Oil on canvas Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland http://www.abcgallery.com/M/murillo/murillo33.html

Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Date: 1660s

Type: Oil on canvas

Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

http://www.abcgallery.com/M/murillo/murillo33.html

The Return of the Prodigal Son Artist: Rembrandt Type: Oil on Canvas http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_3_1_4d.html

Artist: Rembrandt

Type: Oil on Canvas

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_3_1_4d.html

The Prodigal Son Receiving His Portion of Inheritance Artist: Bartolome Estaban Murillo Date: 1660s Type:Oil on canvas Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland http://www.abcgallery.com/M/murillo/murillo29.html

Artist: Bartolome Estaban Murillo

Date: 1660s

Type:Oil on canvas

Location: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

http://www.abcgallery.com/M/murillo/murillo29.html

The Parable of the Mustard Seed Background (Matthew 13:31-32) This story basically reminds people that no matter how small sometimes seems at the time, later on it can grow into something big and beautiful. The example is with a mustard seed. Although it is the smallest seed, it can grow into the largest plant in the garden and then a tree for birds to rest on.

Background (Matthew 13:31-32)

This story basically reminds people that no matter how small sometimes seems at the time, later on it can grow into something big and beautiful. The example is with a mustard seed. Although it is the smallest seed, it can grow into the largest plant in the garden and then a tree for birds to rest on.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed This page did not have any artist or anything but it depicts Jesus holding out mustard seeds. http:// www.bibleuniverse.com/grandmas_attic.asp?ID =32

This page did not have any artist or anything but it depicts Jesus holding out mustard seeds.

http:// www.bibleuniverse.com/grandmas_attic.asp?ID =32

The Parable of a Mustard Seed http://www.theprayerbox.com/ext27.htm

http://www.theprayerbox.com/ext27.htm

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Background: (Luke 18:9-14) This is an interesting parable because it talks about a Pharisee that went to the temple to pray and in his prayer sustains the fact that he has done no wrong and is better than the tax collector near him. The tax collector begs for mercy. One verse says, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Verse 14)

Background: (Luke 18:9-14)

This is an interesting parable because it talks about a Pharisee that went to the temple to pray and in his prayer sustains the fact that he has done no wrong and is better than the tax collector near him. The tax collector begs for mercy. One verse says, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Verse 14)

Parable of the Tax Collector http:// www.wisconsinchristiannews.com/view_details.php?story_id =63

http:// www.wisconsinchristiannews.com/view_details.php?story_id =63

Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector http:// www.gallen.at/bibel/at_pharisaeerundzoellner.html

http:// www.gallen.at/bibel/at_pharisaeerundzoellner.html

Another art of this parable. http:// www.mustardseed.net/html/topride.html

http:// www.mustardseed.net/html/topride.html

The Parable of the Talents Background (Matthew 25:14-30) This parable starts out with a master giving one person five talents, another two talents, and a last person one talent. He expects to see them put them to good use and make more talents. The first two people do just that. The last guy takes his talent and buries it and does nothing with it. When they report back to the master. He rebukes the guy because the guy accused him of being “hard”. The people who made more talents are given credit and are given more, but the person who hid the talent got thrown “outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is a story I believe to be intended to tell us to utilize what we have and for God’s sake.

Background (Matthew 25:14-30)

This parable starts out with a master giving one person five talents, another two talents, and a last person one talent. He expects to see them put them to good use and make more talents. The first two people do just that. The last guy takes his talent and buries it and does nothing with it. When they report back to the master. He rebukes the guy because the guy accused him of being “hard”. The people who made more talents are given credit and are given more, but the person who hid the talent got thrown “outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is a story I believe to be intended to tell us to utilize what we have and for God’s sake.

Parable of the Talents Artist: Rembrandt http:// www.textweek.com/art/parables.htm

Artist: Rembrandt

http:// www.textweek.com/art/parables.htm

Parable of the Talents http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl52s.htm

http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl52s.htm

Parable of the Talents This art is a great portrayal of all the steps in this parable. http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/AINT00F.HTM

This art is a great portrayal of all the steps in this parable.

http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/AINT00F.HTM

Conclusion These are just a few of the parables that are in Biblical text. There are many, many more. It is my belief that there are a part of religious art symbolism because they are meant to show us how to live in according to God.

These are just a few of the parables that are in Biblical text. There are many, many more. It is my belief that there are a part of religious art symbolism because they are meant to show us how to live in according to God.