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Old Testament Field Guide

  1. Lesson One
    Getting Ready
    19 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Geography and Religion
    11 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Geopolitical History
    15 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Ancient Near Eastern Sources
    11 Activities
  5. Lesson Five
    Impact of the Old Testament
    11 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Old Testament Field Guide Impact of the Old Testament In Front | The Impact of the Bible on Art
Lesson 5, Activity 7

In Front | The Impact of the Bible on Art

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In the main square in Florence, Italy, stands a full-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David (1504). Considered one of the greatest pieces of art ever made, it recalls the story of David and Goliath from the Old Testament.

The Great Tower of Babel (ca. 1563), painted by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, was apparently inspired by the Roman Coliseum. Babel is the name given to the tower built so that the people could “make a name” for themselves (Gen 11:4).

Rembrandt painted a number of Old Testament figures. The image above is called The Circumcision (1661). While the painting’s subject is the circumcision of Jesus, it alludes to a central Old Testament covenantal practice.

William Blake was a painter, printmaker and poet who had a strong philosophical bent who produced a number of pieces with Old Testament subjects. This image is titled The Ghost of Samuel Appearing to Saul (ca. 1800).

The Jewish painter, Marc Chagall, completed the ceiling of the Opéra Garnier in Paris in 1964. There have been few Jewish artists of note due to the Old Testament’s prohibition against creating a graven image (Ex 20:4).