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The Visual Commentary on Scripture @TheVCS

The VCS is a free, online resource that provides material for teaching, preaching, researching, and reflecting on the Bible, Art, and Theology.

Joined February 2018
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1,233 Photos and videos
Do know that you can find the VCS across social media? We are on Facebook: facebook.com/www.theVCS.org We are on Instagram: instagram.com/the_vcs/ We are on YouTube: youtube.com/@VisualCommentar… We are on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/thevcs.bsky…
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Do know that you can find the VCS across social media? We are on Facebook: facebook.com/www.theVCS.org We are on Instagram: instagram.com/the_vcs/ We are on YouTube: youtube.com/@VisualCommentar… We are on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/thevcs.bsky…
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James the son of Zebedee is best known for being the patron saint of pilgrimage. This statue of James can be found in Santiago de Compostela, a site closely associated with pilgrimage. Take a closer look in this week's exhibition, The Way to Glory: thevcs.org/way-glory#sit-one…
MASTER MATEO St James, from the Portico of Glory (Portico di Gloria), c.1168–88, Granite, Santa Apostólica y Metropolitana Iglesia Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela; PRISMA ARCHIVO / Alamy Stock Photo

ALT MASTER MATEO St James, from the Portico of Glory (Portico di Gloria), c.1168–88, Granite, Santa Apostólica y Metropolitana Iglesia Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela; PRISMA ARCHIVO / Alamy Stock Photo
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Psalm 104 presents the earth and everything in it as a theatre of God’s glory that incites the praise of God’s people. None of the characters or scenes in this creational theatre is insignificant. Take a closer look at our exhibition of the week: thevcs.org/o-lord-how-manifo…
Psalm 104 O Lord, How Manifold Are Thy Works! Commentaries by Wesley Vander Lugt

ALT Psalm 104 O Lord, How Manifold Are Thy Works! Commentaries by Wesley Vander Lugt
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Sandra Bowden’s collagraph takes inspiration from the psalmist’s pronouncement that God has set the earth on an immovable foundation. Click here to read about the third work in our exhibition on #Psalm 104: thevcs.org/o-lord-how-manifo…
SANDRA BOWDEN He Established the Earth Upon Its Foundations, 1980, Collagraph, 45.7 x 35.6 cm, Private Collection; ©️ Sandra Bowden, courtesy of the artist

ALT SANDRA BOWDEN He Established the Earth Upon Its Foundations, 1980, Collagraph, 45.7 x 35.6 cm, Private Collection; ©️ Sandra Bowden, courtesy of the artist
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Vincent van Gogh wrote that ‘all nature seems to speak … I do not understand why everyone does not see and feel it; nature or God does it for everyone who has eyes and ears and a heart to understand’. Take a closer look at Long Grass with Butterflies in this week's exhibition: thevcs.org/o-lord-how-manifo…
VINCENT VAN GOGH Long Grass with Butterflies, 1890, Oil on canvas, 64.5 x 80.7 cm, The National Gallery, London; Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1926, NG4169, Courtesy National Gallery London

ALT VINCENT VAN GOGH Long Grass with Butterflies, 1890, Oil on canvas, 64.5 x 80.7 cm, The National Gallery, London; Bought, Courtauld Fund, 1926, NG4169, Courtesy National Gallery London
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The title of this work, The World Spills, comes from an essay by philosopher Bayo Akomolafe who writes that ‘the world spills in excess of itself’. Find out more in our exhibition on #Psalm 104, O Lord, How Manifold Are Thy Works! thevcs.org/o-lord-how-manifo…
STEPHANIE ANN VANDER LUGT The World Spills, 2024, Mixed fibres, 91.4 x 91.4 cm, Private Collection; ©️ Stephanie Ann Vander Lugt

ALT STEPHANIE ANN VANDER LUGT The World Spills, 2024, Mixed fibres, 91.4 x 91.4 cm, Private Collection; ©️ Stephanie Ann Vander Lugt
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The events described in #Matthew 2:1–12 culminate with the star finally halting above the place where the Child was and the Magi entering the house. There they see Jesus and his mother, fall to their knees, and offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As interpreted by theologians and communicated in the liturgy, however, the story of the Wise Men has been understood to have various other meanings, several of which emerge in the works discussed here. Click here to explore Timothy Verdon's exhibition The Adoration of the Magi: thevcs.org/adoration-magi
Matthew 2:1–12 The Adoration of the Magi Commentaries by Timothy Verdon

ALT Matthew 2:1–12 The Adoration of the Magi Commentaries by Timothy Verdon
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Cristobal de Villalpando, trained in Mexico City by Baltasar de Echave Rioja, son of one of the first Hispanic artists to emigrate to ‘New Spain’ (as Mexico was then known), was inspired by Rubens for his depiction of the Magi. Take a closer look here: thevcs.org/adoration-magi#ri…
CRISTÓBAL DE VILLALPANDO Adoration of the Magi, 1683, Oil on canvas, Fordham University, New York; Used by permission of the Fordham University Art Collection

ALT CRISTÓBAL DE VILLALPANDO Adoration of the Magi, 1683, Oil on canvas, Fordham University, New York; Used by permission of the Fordham University Art Collection
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Benozzo Gozzoli's fresco cycle, painted for the Medici family's private chapel in 1459, is one of the most impressive depictions of the Journey of the Magi. Take a closer look in our exhibition of the week, The Adoration of the Magi: thevcs.org/adoration-magi#po…
BENOZZO GOZZOLI The Journey of the Magi. Detail from the east wall of the Chapel of the Magi , 1459, Fresco, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence; Luisa Ricciarini / Bridgeman Images

ALT BENOZZO GOZZOLI The Journey of the Magi. Detail from the east wall of the Chapel of the Magi , 1459, Fresco, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence; Luisa Ricciarini / Bridgeman Images
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In the week of #Epiphany, our Exhibition of the Week looks at the Adoration of the Magi. Click here to read Timothy Verdon's commentary on Matthew 2:1–12 and this sixth-century mosaic in the church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo at Ravenna: thevcs.org/adoration-magi#na…
UNKNOWN BYZANTINE ARTIST The Magi offer gifts to the Madonna and Child , 6th century, Mosaic, Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna; Terence Kerr / Alamy Stock Photo

ALT UNKNOWN BYZANTINE ARTIST The Magi offer gifts to the Madonna and Child , 6th century, Mosaic, Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna; Terence Kerr / Alamy Stock Photo
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Fung Chunlan’s photograph I Don’t Know about Tomorrow features a boy in an outfit of ginkgo leaves standing against the backdrop of an ominous storm. Find out more in this week's exhibition on Ephesians 1: thevcs.org/gods-holy-people#…
FUNG CHUNLAN I Don’t Know about Tomorrow, 2023, Photograph; Courtesy Fung Chunlan

ALT FUNG CHUNLAN I Don’t Know about Tomorrow, 2023, Photograph; Courtesy Fung Chunlan
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The offensive mingling of the grotesque and the sacred, not unlike the original crucifixion of Christ, belies a profound message of faith in Damien Hirst's God Alone Knows. Read about it in our exhibition on Ephesians 1: thevcs.org/gods-holy-people#…
DAMIEN HIRST God Alone Knows, 2007, Glass, painted stainless steel, silicone, mirror, stainless steel, plastic cable ties, sheep and formaldehyde solution with steel, and Carrara marble plinths, One tank 380 x 201 x 61 cm, two tanks 324 x 171 x 61 cm, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo; ©️ Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd

ALT DAMIEN HIRST God Alone Knows, 2007, Glass, painted stainless steel, silicone, mirror, stainless steel, plastic cable ties, sheep and formaldehyde solution with steel, and Carrara marble plinths, One tank 380 x 201 x 61 cm, two tanks 324 x 171 x 61 cm, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Oslo; ©️ Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd
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We continue our weekly exhibitions with a closer look at #Ephesians 1. Gao Lei’s painting Devonian Christmas presents a horseshoe crab flanked by a murex snail and a trilobite. Curious? Find out more by clicking here: thevcs.org/gods-holy-people#…
GAO LEI Devonian Christmas, 2021, Acrylic on board, 180 x 130 cm; Image courtesy of the artist

ALT GAO LEI Devonian Christmas, 2021, Acrylic on board, 180 x 130 cm; Image courtesy of the artist
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The Visual Commentary on Scripture wishes you a Happy Christmas! thevcs.org/establishing-hear…
JOHN REILLY Holy Family, Date unknown, Oil on board, 106.7 x 106.7 cm, Private collection; ©️ Jillian Reilly, courtesy of https://thejohnreillygallery.co.uk

ALT JOHN REILLY Holy Family, Date unknown, Oil on board, 106.7 x 106.7 cm, Private collection; ©️ Jillian Reilly, courtesy of https://thejohnreillygallery.co.uk

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Looking for Christmas-themed works of art and commentaries? Look no further than the VCS: thevcs.org/themes/christmas
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Have you seen our film series about Jesus and the Virgin Mary, produced in partnership with the National Museums in Berlin? Take a look at our video channel to find out more: thevcs.org/video-channel
Produced in partnership with the National Museums in Berlin, these short films tell the story of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

ALT Produced in partnership with the National Museums in Berlin, these short films tell the story of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
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Chloë Reddaway writes about 'the faithful and joyful fertility of the Virgin' and 'the new covenant of grace in Christ', beautifully depicted in Pontormo's fresco of the #Visitation. A look at today's joyful #Advent commentary: thevcs.org/quickening-creati…
PONTORMO The Visitation (detail), 1514–16, Fresco, 392 x 337 cm, Santissima Annunziata, Florence; Scala / Art Resource, NY

ALT PONTORMO The Visitation (detail), 1514–16, Fresco, 392 x 337 cm, Santissima Annunziata, Florence; Scala / Art Resource, NY
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The Visual Commentary on Scripture retweeted
Jonathan Evens@jevens
18 Dec 2025
Today's Bible and Art Daily episode from @TheVCS in the Series 'Trees of Life' is a commentary I have written. Episode 7 of 14: The Ground of Rebirth has artwork by Arthur Boyd - thevcs.org/back-brink?utm_so… Sign up to the series here - thevcs.org/bible-and-art-dai…

Back from the Brink

Exhibition: Back from the Brink (Daniel 4). Featuring works of art by William Blake, Arthur Boyd and Peter Howson. Commentaries by Jonathan Evens.

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Psalm 139 is a perfect companion to Agnes Martin's humble, joyful work: 'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.' In the third week of #Advent, we explore joy: thevcs.org/darkness-illumina…
AGNES MARTIN Happiness, 1999, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 152.4 x 152.4 cm, Dia Art Foundation, New York; Partial gift, Lannan Foundation, 2013, 2013.014, © Agnes Martin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York; Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York, courtesy Dia Art Foundation, New York

ALT AGNES MARTIN Happiness, 1999, Acrylic and graphite on canvas, 152.4 x 152.4 cm, Dia Art Foundation, New York; Partial gift, Lannan Foundation, 2013, 2013.014, © Agnes Martin / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York; Photo: Bill Jacobson Studio, New York, courtesy Dia Art Foundation, New York
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