Bible & Art Reframed

There are over 300 mentions of gold in the Bible: it’s a symbol of holiness and purity, and has historical associations with power and greed. It’s also a rich source for artists to interpret and use in their work—just don’t tell Leon Battista Alberti. In this episode of Bible & Art Reframed, Joost and Michelle explore the topic of Gold through a tiny coin from the Persian Empire, a medieval manuscript (Joost’s favourite) featuring a golden calf, and a hauntingly beautiful crown from Peru. Join as they reflect on gold in the Bible, art, and its role in colonial history. The artworks and insights in this episode can be explored in more detail on the Visual Commentary on Scripture : the internet’s premier place for Bible and Art. It houses over 1000 artworks and insightful commentary from experts around the World. Support Bible & Art Reframed by subscribing, sharing with a friend, and leaving us a review! _______ Links to Artworks Unknown artist, Ancient Greek Coin, Gold Persian Daric, Great King kneeling with bow, c.450 BCE, Gold; Hoberman / UIG / Bridgeman Images William de Brailes, The Israelites Worship the Golden Calf, from Bible pictures by William de Brailes , c.1250, Illumination on parchment, The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; MS Bible Pictures, shelf mark W.106, fol. 13r, The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Unknown artist, Apse mosaic of the Transfiguration , 565–66, Mosaic, Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai; LatitudeStock / Alamy Stock Photo Marcos del Carpio [attrib.], Crown of Thorns , c.1760, Gold, repoussé, cast, and chased with emeralds, a topaz and other precious stones, 8.7 x 25.9 cm, Cabildo Metropolitano de Arequipa, Peru; Photo: Daniel Giannoni, Courtesy of Cabildo Metropolitano de Arequipa, Peru Olga de Amaral, Alchemy 50 (Alquimia 50) , 1987, Canvas, gesso, gold leaf, and acrylic paint, 165 x 150 cm, Tate; Presented by the artist 2016, T14879, © Olga de Amaral; Photo: © Tate, London / Art Resource, NY Explore additional artworks on this theme in our Curated Commentaries on Gold. Hosts: Dr Michelle Fletcher and Dr Joost Joustra Producer: Megan Jones Theme: Tim Bentley Instagram: @the_VCS TikTok: @thevcs.org YouTube: VisualCommentaryonScripture

How better to open the door to our first episode of Bible & Art Reframed, than with the topic of Doorways & Thresholds? Join Michelle and Joost as they journey through five very different artworks—and their paired scriptural passages—that relate to Doorways & Thresholds. They discuss how artists have framed narratives around critical moments in life, precarity, and the constant struggle of making good decisions. The artworks and insights in this episode can be explored in more detail on the Visual Commentary on Scripture : the internet’s premier place for Bible and Art. It houses over 1000 artworks and insightful commentary from experts around the World. Support Bible & Art Reframed by subscribing, sharing with a friend, and leaving us a review! _____ Links to Artworks John Everett Millais, Esther , 1863–65, Oil on canvas, 77.4 x 106 cm, Private Collection Ludolf Backhuysen I, Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast, 1667, Oil on canvas, 114.3 x 167.3 cm, The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1985.29.1, courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington Hélio Oiticica, Penetrável PN1 (installed at Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro, 2008), 1960, Oil on wood, 203 x 150 x 150 cm, Centro Municipal de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro Unknown artist, England, The Twenty-Four Elders Pay Homage to the Throne of God , c.1255–60, Tempera, gold leaf, coloured washes, pen and ink on parchment, 31.9 x 22.5 cm, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Ms. Ludwig III 1 (83.MC.72), fol. 4v, Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program Gislebertus, Last Judgement , 1130–45, Stone, West tympanum, Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun, France Explore additional artworks on this theme in our Curated Commentaries on Doorways and Thresholds . Hosts: Dr Michelle Fletcher and Dr Joost Joustra Producer: Megan Jones Theme: Tim Bentley Instagram: @the_VCS TikTok: @thevcs.org YouTube: VisualCommentaryonScripture

Bible & Art Reframed is a new podcast connecting the world of scripture with the history of art. Each episode, biblical scholar Dr Michelle Fletcher and art historian Dr Joost Joustra take a topic—gold, doorways, wisdom—and use it to journey through pairings of artworks and scriptural passages. Expect new takes, and expert reflections along the way. If you're interested in Bible & art, and fresh connections between the two—subscribe to Bible & Art Reframed wherever you get your podcasts, or through the link in our bio. Stay tuned for the first episode, coming very soon. Hosts: Dr Michelle Fletcher and Dr Joost Joustra Producer: Megan Jones Theme: Tim Bentley Instagram: @the_VCS TikTok: @thevcs.org YouTube: VisualCommentaryonScripture