3 September 2024

1. Medieval Bible Illustration – Fourteenth Century

In the Old Testament, the ‘Song of Songs’ has proved fertile ground for both musicians and artists. In this medieval Bible illustration from the National Gallery in the Netherlands, the bride wears a crown. The groom has a halo. This is Christ and his bride, the Church. The allegory protected readers from the sensuous love poetry in the book where God is never mentioned.

2. King Solomon composing the Song of Songs in ecstasy

In this depiction, the lover is half naked. She carries a horn full of fire. King Solomon is in ecstasy. That’s the title of this seventeenth century engraving  for a Bible illustration published in Paris. The Latin on the book reads, ‘Word of God’. The illustration is unusually explicit for a post-Reformation Bible. How many of our Bibles would have such bold illustration?

3. ‘The Silent Song’ by Ephraim Moses Lilien

Of course, ‘Song of Songs’ belongs to the cannon of Judaism. Ephraim Moses Lilien has called this illustration ‘The Silent Song’. The singing is in the kissing as the groom embraces his bride. There are two turtle-doves kissing behind them. A fruitful vine and a flowering rose frames the art. Nature is celebrated in the imagery of the lovers’ physical form.

4. ‘Song of Songs’ by Marc Chagall

This is one of a series of twentieth century paintings on the ‘Song of Songs’ by the Russian-French artist, Marc Chagall.  The bride carries a bouquet of flowers. They are suspended in mid-air such is their elation. What strikes me is the prominence of the bride who is taller and bigger than the  groom. She is the one who takes the initiative in the love-making. She is the theologian. ‘Set me as a seal upon your heart .. for love is strong as death.’ she sings - and Jesus heard it all!

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