Canon to Canvas: Biblical Texts in Art

How have artists across centuries interpreted the Hebrew Bible's most iconic narratives? In this four-part series, renowned scholars Robert Alter and Ronald Hendel join leading art historians to explore the intersection of scripture and visual art. Through the lens of comparative literature and art history, we examine how masterworks by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and others translate sacred text into image. By pairing close readings of biblical passages with visual analysis, we’ll uncover how painters have wrestled with divine revelation and human frailty. Discover how the hermeneutics of art creates new meanings for classic stories across millennia.

• Art history enthusiasts and students of Religious Studies interested in the evolution of iconography.
• Readers of Robert Alter’s translation of the Hebrew Bible looking for a visual companion to his literary analysis.
• Anyone curious about Biblical reception history and how sacred narratives shaped Western Art.
• Lifelong learners interested in interdisciplinary studies involving text and image.

• Advanced skills in literary analysis of biblical texts and a technical vocabulary for visual interpretation.
• An understanding of "Visual Midrash"—how artists act as commentators on the text through their creative choices.
• Insights into the historical context of the Renaissance and Baroque masters and their theological influences.
• A fresh perspective on the theory of translation as it moves from the written word to the canvas.