Artwork Inspired by the Book of Daniel

 Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's first dream, 1670s

Mattia Preti (Italian, 1613–1699)
 

²⁰“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Daniel 2:20-23
 

Shadrach, Meschach, and Abdenego, 1863

Simeon Solomon (British, 1840–1905)

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:16-18

Nebuchadnezzar, 1795 

William Blake (British, 1757-1827) 

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
³⁵ All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”
Daniel 4:34b-35

Belshazzar’s Feast, 1635-1638
Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606-1669)
 
²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:
Mene : God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
²⁷ Tekel : You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
²⁸ Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Daniel 5:26-28

Daniel in Lions Den, 1892

Briton Rivière (British, 1840-1920)

Daniel's Answer to the King, 1892

Briton Rivière (British, 1840-1920)

21 “May the king live forever!  22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

Daniel 6:21-22

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday commemorates the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem described in all four canonical gospels. As described in the accounts, Jesus's entry into Jerusalem was noted by the crowds present who shouted praises and waved palm branches, singing part of Psalm 118: 25–26 – “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” ( Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-39, John 12:12-19 )

Holy Monday

On Holy Monday, some observe the anointing of Jesus at Bethany (John 12:1-11). Other events which the Gospels tell of which may have occurred on this day include cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17 Luke 19:45-48), and the questioning of Jesus’ authority. (Matthew 21:23-27, Mark  11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8)

Fig Tuesday

On Holy Tuesday, some observe Jesus' predictions of his own death, ( John 12:20-36) and the cursing the fig tree. ( Matthew 21:18—19, Mark 11:12-14)

Spy Wednesday

On Holy Wednesday, the story of Judas arranging his betrayal of Jesus with the chief priests is remembered.  ( Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6 )  For this reason, the day is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday"

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) commemorates the Last Supper, where Christ lays out the model for the Eucharist or Holy Communion. ( Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46 )    During the meal, Jesus predicted the events that would immediately follow, including his betrayal ( Matthew 26:21-25, Mark 14:17-21 ), the Denial of Peter ( Matthew 26:31-35, Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22:31-34, John 13:36-38 ), and his death and resurrection ( Matthew 26:32, Mark 14:28,John 13:33-34 ).

Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent death. ( Matthew 27:1-61, Mark 15:1-41, Luke 23:1-49, John 19:1-37)

Black Saturday

( Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42 )

Holy Saturday is the day between the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. As the Sabbath day, the Gospel accounts all note that Jesus was hurriedly buried in a cave tomb after his crucifixion, with the intent to finish proper embalming and burial ceremonies on Sunday, after the Sabbath had ended, as the Sabbath day prohibitions would have prevented observant Jews from completing a proper burial.

Easter Sunday

( Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-12, John 200:1-18 )

Easter Day, which immediately follows Holy Week and begins with the Easter Vigil, is the great feast day and apogee of the Christian liturgical year: on this day the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or Eastertide, which runs from Easter Day to Pentecost Sunday. The Resurrection of Christ on Easter Day is the main reason why Christians keep every Sunday as the primary day of religious observance.

Orientalism Art - Judas se pend 1886-1894

Judas Hangs Himself

(Judas se pend)

Artist : James Tissot, French, 1836-1902

Medium : Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper

Place Made : France

Dates : 1886-1894

Dimension : 11 7/8 x 6 1/8 in. (30.2 x 15.6 cm)

Location : Brooklyn Museum, NY, USA

Matthew 27

1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

   “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”