The Great Day of His Wrath

"The Great Day of His Wrath"
By, John Martin
Created (1851-1853)
Oil on canvas
(78 in x 113 in)

John Martin is an English painter and describes this painting as "The destruction of Babylon and the materil world by natural cataclysim." The wrath as seen in this painting depicts the revelation from the New Testament.  The revelation is known as God's wrath to end the world. Wrath is one of the seven deadly sins meaning anger and resentment.

All is Vanity

“All Is Vanity” (1892)

Charles Gilbert (September 3, 1873 – April 20, 1929) 
Charcoals and paper
(12 in x 18 in)

Charles Gilbert was an American Illustrator of books, magazines, posters and calendars. The biblical phrase "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" from Ecclesiastes 1:2 inspired Charles to draw this picture.  This refers to the pride and vanity of one's beauty and is a reminder of mortality. The message of this piece is that no matter how beautiful you are you will eventually die.

Candles of Love

"Candles of Love" (2014)
By Leonid Afremov
Oil on canvas
(30 in x 40 in)

Leonid Afremov is a painter who works with oil and canvas using only a knife palette to create his art work.  His art is exhibited in the United Kingdom and does freelance work in Russia on farms and schools.  The candles in this painting provoke the mood of love and lust and creates a sexual atmosphere.  Lust is the desire for sexual needs which used to be considered a sin rather than human nature.

Gluttony

"Gluttony" by Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502–1550)

Designed ca. 1532 - 1534, woven ca. 1550 - 60

Renaissance tapestry: Wool, silk, silver-gilt metal thread

Dimensions: 12 ft. 9 in. × 22 ft. 3 in. (388.6 × 678.2 cm)

Pieter Coecke van Aelst was a Flemish painter, sculptor, architect and also designed stained glass and tapestries.  Pieter's theme of art were christian religious themed.  This tapesty is one of many tapestries by Pieter hung in the Metropolitan museum of art.  Gluttony is another word for greed and greed is one of the seven deadly sins because it is wrong to want more and more of things you do not need.

Triptych of Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation

Triptych of Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation (Vanity) (c.1485)

by Hans Memling (1435-1494)

Oil on oak panel

22 x 15 cm  

Hans Memling was a German painter of portraits and religious art work.  The painting Vanity is one of three panels belonging to the piece Triptych of Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation.  Vanity is located in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg.  Vanity is considered a sin and is an excessive admiration of ones looks and achievements.  This is also known as pride which is one of the seven deadly sins.

Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time

"Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time" by Agnolo Bronzino 

Oil painting on wood in the National Gallery in London.

Dimensions: 146 cm x 116 cm (57 in x 46 in) 

Circa 1545

Agnolo Bronzino was an Italian Mannerist painter from Florence who specialized in portraits.  This painting was a gift to Francis I of France. He painted this during the Mannerist period to represent lust, deceit, and jealousy.  Jealousy and lust are two of the seven deadly sins.