Fine Pictures and a Little Music

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Someone mentioned last week that Denmark is the art capital of the world.  I have no arguments with that statement.  Carl Bloch is an artist who lived in Denmark in the 1800's.  He was classically trained in Italy.  The King commissioned him to paint the life of the Savior for the King's castle.  The result was 23 paintings that portray Jesus Christ throughout His life, from birth to the cross, and beyond to appearing in His resurrected state to Thomas and other apostles.   

The Church has used most of those 23 paintings in nearly every publication since the time they obtained a copyright for them.  The artist has also painted several large and magnificent altar pieces that are scattered throughout Denmark and Sweden (with one in Provo, Utah at the BYU Museum of Art).  We have had the sweet privilege of seeing most of them, and hope to see all of them by the time we leave here.

Another great artist is Franz Schwarz - who is Danish.  He painted close to the time that Carl Bloch was painting, and the few works I have seen by him have been very moving.  The subject of one of his great works is Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.   It is - simply - magnificent. 

 It, as well as many of Carl Bloch's works traveled across the world to be on display at BYU's Museum of Art for several months.  I would have loved to have seen it because NOBODY does a better job of educating about and exhibiting great art than BYU.

They are all back in their homes in Denmark and Sweden (and New York), and now SK and I will try to see as many as we can in the next 7 months.

And then there is Bertel Thorvaldsen, the sculptor who created the Christus on which is based the sculptures in many of the Church's visitor's centers.  When the temple in Italy is dedicated, the visitor's center will have not only the Christus by Thorvaldsen....a painstakingly accurate copy, as well as copies of the Twelve Apostles.    

I had the sweet opportunity to share with a small group of sisters from the Amager branch the great art that depicts Christ.  It was a lovely evening with those dear friends....there were 8 of us.  My favorite thing is always when someone says "I saw things in those paintings I have never seen before!"  I have had that experience so many times during the years of training at Phoenix Art Museum.  Those Friday morning lectures nearly always had something in them that opened my eyes once again to the beauties in art.

I was able to give them copies of "Messiah in America," and "That Easter Morn" by the Mormon Choral Organizations....large choir/orchestras from Orange County CA, Mesa AZ and Provo UT.  They were organized and are led by two dynamic young men who are literally musical geniuses.  I have been to many of their performances and they are fantastic.  I love those choirs!  They changed their name to the Millenniel Choirs and can no longer sell those two CDs.  So Melissa sent us 100 of them to give away.  I think they are an incredible gift.  They didn't come free though....Melissa spent $100 just getting them mailed.  But it makes me so happy to give them away.  They have a beautiful song called "Precious Savior" on the Easter CD that I listen to over and over.     

How blessed we are to live in a time and place where our lives are so enriched by great artists.