Christian Art by Carl Bloch
Slide show
Bloch's portrayals of Christ possess a unique and timeless quality. They pull viewers into their story by engaging directly with the moral conflict and humanizing their characters' struggles.
The BYU Museum of Art welcomes the works of renowned artist Carl Bloch for
the first time out of their native Denmark. His thoughtful depictions of the
Savior have had profound influence on the lives of Christians all over the
world. Bloch's portrayals of Christ possess a unique and timeless quality. They
pull viewers into their story by engaging directly with the moral conflict and
humanizing their characters'struggles. They affirm Christ's mission of
salvation and challenge the viewer to contemplate what it means to have living
faith, a principle the artist lived his life by.
Bloch was born in Denmark in 1834. He was born and raised Lutheran and
practiced their faith for the duration of his life. After discovering and
pursuing a passion for art in his youth, Bloch attended the prestigious Royal
Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen. Though a faithful Christian, it was not
until later in his career that he began painting the Savior. Because of his
acclaimed work, Bloch was later commissioned to paint twenty-three depictions
of the Savior's life in the Frederiksborg Castle. Later he was commissioned by
various congregations in Denmark and Sweden to create religious altarpieces,
several of which were featured in the exhibition.
While respected by many Christian faiths, Bloch's work has come to be
particularly meaningful to Latter-day Saints. Though during his life Bloch was
considered a master at his craft, he was largely forgotten after his death and
the rise of the Impressionist movement. Half a century later and half a world
away, LDS people in the Salt Lake Valley discovered and developed a love for
his artwork. From then on, it has been used to beautify many Church
publications, LDS meetinghouses and temples throughout the world.
The Museum's miraculous acquisition of Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda
in 2001 deepened the Church's connection to Bloch. Now, after several years of
negotiations with many of the churches and museums in Denmark and Sweden,
nearly forty of Bloch's works have traveled to the Museum of Art to be seen together
for the first time ever outside their homes.
Through Carl Bloch's masterful paintings, viewers will come to recognize the
hand of the Savior in their lives.
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