The Art of Scripture
Featuring the Words of the King James Bible and 100 Paintings from the National Gallery Collection
Published on 18. September 2025
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-7394178-5-7 (ISBN)
Description
From the majesty of Genesis to the mystery of Revelation, the Bible contains some of the world's most powerful stories and sublime wisdom. It is also the inspiration for some of the greatest pictures ever painted.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Moses and the exodus from Egypt, Samson betrayed by Delilah, David slaying Goliath, the beauty of Bathsheba, the wisdom of Solomon: these are among the dramatic scenes and memorable characters in the Old Testament, portrayed here by artists such as Poussin, Rembrandt and Rubens.
In the New Testament, the figure of Jesus takes centre stage, with his compelling parables and miracles depicted by artists such as Caravaggio, Duccio, El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez.
Together, these words and paintings convey a profound sense of the sacred. Both may go back many hundreds of years, and yet they still have the power to move and inspire us today.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Moses and the exodus from Egypt, Samson betrayed by Delilah, David slaying Goliath, the beauty of Bathsheba, the wisdom of Solomon: these are among the dramatic scenes and memorable characters in the Old Testament, portrayed here by artists such as Poussin, Rembrandt and Rubens.
In the New Testament, the figure of Jesus takes centre stage, with his compelling parables and miracles depicted by artists such as Caravaggio, Duccio, El Greco, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez.
Together, these words and paintings convey a profound sense of the sacred. Both may go back many hundreds of years, and yet they still have the power to move and inspire us today.
Reviews / Votes
'To place so much great art back in its original narrative setting is a great and useful thing; it will inspire many "ah yes!" revelations. More, to have these stories in the words of the King James Bible, one the greatest masterpieces of English prose, produces a volume which (like a good gallery) is to be lingered over and revisited time and time again.' -- From the foreword by Andrew Marr, Cultural Trustee, the National Gallery, London "In a beautiful fusion of sacred text and visual masterpiece, The Art of Scripture offers a resonant new way to experience the Bible through the lens of Western art" -- Anthology MagazineMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
SPCK Publishing
Illustrations
100 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 254 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
1098 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-7394178-5-7 (9781739417857)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
National Gallery The
The Art of Scripture
Featuring the Words of the King James Bible and 100 Paintings from the National Gallery Collection
E-Book
09/2025
1st Edition
SPCK
€19.49
Available for download
Persons
The National Gallery (Author)
The National Gallery in London has been bringing people and paintings together for more than two hundred years. It rightfully holds an unrivalled position as a gallery for all the people, while the King James Bible has for more than four hundred years held its place as a sacred text that everyone can read and enjoy. A gallery for all and a Bible for all.
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
The National Gallery in London has been bringing people and paintings together for more than two hundred years. It rightfully holds an unrivalled position as a gallery for all the people, while the King James Bible has for more than four hundred years held its place as a sacred text that everyone can read and enjoy. A gallery for all and a Bible for all.
Philip Law (In-House Editor)
Philip Law is Publishing Director for SPCK and Lion Books. His previous books include The One Hour Bible (SPCK, 2018), A Time to Pray: 365 classic prayers to help you through the year (Lion, 2002) and The SPCK Book of Christian Prayer (SPCK/Crossroad, 1995/ 2009). He is also a contributor to the 6th edition of The Lion Handbook to the Bible (Lion, 2025).
Content
Part One: Stories and teachings from the Old Testament
1 In the beginning 3
2 The age of the patriarchs 12
3 Joseph in Egypt 29
4 Moses and the exodus 38
5 The Promised Land 60
6 The story of Samson 64
7 The story of Ruth 68
8 Samuel and Saul 72
9 The exploits of David 79
10 The golden age of Solomon 99
11 Elijah and Elisha 103
12 The story of Jonah 109
13 Daniel in Babylon 111
14 Esther, Queen of Persia 117
15 Scenes from the Apocrypha 123
16 Selections from the Psalms 133
17 Sayings of the Wise 136
18 Lines from a love song 143
19 Words and visions of Isaiah 145
Part Two: Stories and teachings from the New Testament
20 The birth and boyhood of Jesus 150
21 Jesus begins his ministry 172
22 The miracle worker 178
23 Sayings from the Sermon on the Mount 188
24 The meaning of love 191
25 Being a disciple 198
26 The road to Jerusalem 206
27 The darkness gathers 214
28 The willing sacrifice 226
29 The defeat of death 244
30 The Church is born 256
31 Early Christian wisdom 275
32 Visions of the end 279
1 In the beginning 3
2 The age of the patriarchs 12
3 Joseph in Egypt 29
4 Moses and the exodus 38
5 The Promised Land 60
6 The story of Samson 64
7 The story of Ruth 68
8 Samuel and Saul 72
9 The exploits of David 79
10 The golden age of Solomon 99
11 Elijah and Elisha 103
12 The story of Jonah 109
13 Daniel in Babylon 111
14 Esther, Queen of Persia 117
15 Scenes from the Apocrypha 123
16 Selections from the Psalms 133
17 Sayings of the Wise 136
18 Lines from a love song 143
19 Words and visions of Isaiah 145
Part Two: Stories and teachings from the New Testament
20 The birth and boyhood of Jesus 150
21 Jesus begins his ministry 172
22 The miracle worker 178
23 Sayings from the Sermon on the Mount 188
24 The meaning of love 191
25 Being a disciple 198
26 The road to Jerusalem 206
27 The darkness gathers 214
28 The willing sacrifice 226
29 The defeat of death 244
30 The Church is born 256
31 Early Christian wisdom 275
32 Visions of the end 279