The Bible and Painting

21 May 2008
Location: Emmaus House
Address: Clifton Hill, Bristol BS8 1BN
Time: 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

A day at Emmaus House in Bristol led by Dr Martin O’Kane.

What we know, or think we know, about the biblical text is often mediated to us through its visual expression - and especially through painting.

The purpose of this study day is to explore how a range of paintings that depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments can provide valuable insights into the meaning of the text itself. They help draw attention to significant details of the text we may have overlooked in our reading of it; they can allow the biblical character, whose voice is sometimes silenced in the text, to speak out eloquently or they may simply draw the viewer into the scene in a real and palpable way.

All the talks during the day are illustrated by a series of paintings, some familiar and some not so familiar and all have a particular focus: rather than engaging with Christian art in a general way, each talk will focus on the interaction between the biblical image and the corresponding biblical text, so that the painting illumines the text and vice versa.

Dr Martin O’Kane BA MA is Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies at The University of Wales, Lampeter.  His specific areas of interest are interdisciplinary and postcolonial approaches to the Hebrew Bible, particularly those relating to the visual arts.

The cost of the day is £20.00 and include lunch and refreshments.  The day concludes with Mass at 4.30 pm.

Contact Angela Groves or Fiona McDonald on 0117 907 9950 book your place.

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