Welcome again. As always it is a pleasure for us at GBE, LLC to share our wealth of art education with you. Whether you're the studious explorer, the tenacious student, or the ardent collector of world art we strive to bring you the most unique artists, writers, painters and public figures. We sincerely hope that through our words, art work and website, a door opens that will allow you to travel back in time while exploring and learning diversity and culture.
We at GBE always strive to focus on the interest, values and traditions shared by many around the world. These traditions for many may include faith, worship and belief. For some it is a belief nurtured by faith and worship of a higher being or entity known as God, Allah, or the Messiah and though rituals of spiritual acknowledgement may be quite different, those of belief and faith share a common goal of worship and reverence. Religion has a longevity which dates as far back as 1 BC (BCE). And with that longevity there have been artists, musicians and painters who have revered their moral and spiritual belief through their work. Some of the most breathtaking acknowledgements of belief have been produced around the world. But there is one figure whom for centuries has represented one common belief. A belief in a higher power known as God. Our site is designed to explore, teach and acknowledge the greatest life recorded in history. Please enjoy the artists and the most influential figure in all religious history. The following story represents the most revered artwork, and the most influential religious figure - Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Jesus Christ was a 1st century Palestinian Jewish carpenter who 30 years after his birth became a leader, minister and rabbi. His ministry launched a new movement in religion and propelled him as the central figure of Christianity. His life was foretold in the Old Testament bible where he is viewed as the 'Messiah' ( a leader anointed by God, and in some cases, a future King of Israel, physically descended from the Davidic line, who would rule the people of the united tribes of Israel). Biblical writings have never given a definitive description of Jesus, although many writings have depicted his ethnicity in numerous versions; blond long flowing hair, bright blue eyes, skin the color of copper - it varies. The physical attributes of Jesus remain in the imagination, study and presentation of the beholder. While Western imagery is dominant, in other parts of the world he is often shown as Black, Arab or Hispanic.
Beginning (from left to right) with our first painting titled "Head of Christ". This oil on canvas was created by Rembrandt Van Rijn, a Dutch artist circa 1650. Rembrandt painted this subject a number of times; of the three examples, one was described as "Een Christus tonie nae't leven" ("a head of Christ done from life," that is, from a model probably found in the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam), and was cited in the 1656 inventory of the artist's possessions. Of the dozen bust-length portraits of Christ known today, only the small panel in Berlin is universally accepted as Rembrandt's work, but several others are obviously the work of pupils. The present picture, which is sensitive both in conception and execution, must be either by Rembrandt or by one of his most gifted followers. The issue, as so often is the case, is complicated by the fact that the paint surface has been flattened and badly abraded.
Our second work of art depicts Jesus Christ in thought. The Russian artist, Ivan Kramskoy or Kramskoi (1837-1887), was arguably the most important Russian portrait artist in history, titled this work 'Jesus Christ in the Wilderness". An oil on canvas, circa 1872.
The third work, the Mosaic of Christ enthronged with Angels is housed at The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, a 6th-century church in eastern Ravenna. Named for Ravenna's first bishop, it is famed for its two side walls full of figurative mosaics dating from c.500 (under the Arian king Theodoric) and c.560 (under Catholic administration). The basilica church in Ravenna Emilia-Romagna Italy. It was erected by the Ostrogoth King Theodoric as his palace chapel, during the first quarter of the 6th century (as attested in the Liber Pontificalis). This Arian church was originally dedicated to Christ the Redeemer. These three masterpieces represent only a fraction of work attributed to the words and work of the carpenter from Nazareth.
Please travel with us and explore both the contemporary and the old masters great works of art as well as the life and ministry of the most influential figure in history... Jesus Christ.