(born 23 May 1834--died 22 February 1990)

Carl Heinrich Bloch was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on May 23, 1834. He studied under Wilhelm Marstrand at the Kunstakademi in Copenhagen. He created his work during the final years of the Golden Age of Danish painting (mid-19th century to the late 1870's). His early work includes genre scenes representing the everyday life of the people. Bloch depicted farm life, as in Boy Waking a Girl with a Feather (1856), and the life of the fishermen, as in Fisher Families Awaiting the Return of the Men in an Impending Storm (1858). From 1859 to 1866 Bloch lived in Italy, and this stay provided him with a rich source on his return, as in such humorous scenes of daily life as a Monk with Toothache (1871).

Bloch's stay in Italy was particularly important for his history painting. He was influenced by contemporary examples of the genre, and he produced large-scale historical works there. He achieved his greatest success when Prometheus Unbound (1864) was exhibited in Copenhagen in 1865. The painting shows Hercules freeing Prometheus; and in the political context of Denmarks recent defeat by Prussia, the Danish public did not fail to see the stirring implications of Danish resistance to tyranny and the hope for national reconstruction.

After the death of Wilhelm Marstrand, he finished the decoration of the ceremonial hall at the University of Copenhagen. His largest public commission was for 23 paintings for the Frederiksborg Palace Chapel (1865-1879). Seven prints from this collection have been used by permission from the Frederiksborgmuseum in the Gospel Art Picture Kit. The original paintings remain in the Frederiksborg Castle Chapel. Other well-known pictures from this collection occasionally appear in various periodicals. His figures are realistic, full of motion, color (look for the reds) and expression. His classic depictions of the Savior's life are familiar throughout the Christian world. Some of these beloved scenes have been reproduced in the recent film Testaments.

More information about the art of Carl Bloch, including additional pictures, is found in the excellent article "The Life of Christ: Painted by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-90)" January 1991 Ensign. Available on-line This article includes twenty of Bloch's paintings, a brief biography, and the story of how the Church convinced the Frederiksborgmuseum to allow them to use these famous pictures. These additional pictures may be found on the covers (look inside and out) of the church magazines.

"Doubting Thomas" Ensign, April 1988.

"Drawing for Christ's Birth" Ensign, December 1994.

Etching of "Christ and Sinner" Ensign, February 1999.

"Flight Into Egypt" New Era, December 1992.

Pictures in the Gospel Art Picture Kit

Music is from the LDS hymnal and the Children's Songbook:

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

Hymn #204 "Silent Night"

Hymn #206 "Away in a Manger"

#217 Woman at the Well John 4:3-30, 39-42

Hymn #220 "Lord I Would Follow Thee"

#222 Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead John 11:1-45

Hymn # 141 "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee"

#224 Jesus Cleansing the Temple Matthew 21:12-15; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:13-16

Hymn #59 "Come, O Thou King of Kings"

#225 The Last Supper Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23,39; John 13:1, 23-35; 14-17; 18:1 Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 26:22-24

Hymn #181 "Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King"

Children's Songbook p.72 "The Sacrament"

#229 Peter's Denial Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13,18

Hymn #260 "Who's on the Lord's Side?"

Hymn #254 "True to the Faith"

#231 Burial of Jesus Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

Hymn #184 "Upon the Cross of Calvary"

Children's Songbook p. 62 "Beautiful Savior" words from 12^th century Crusader's hymn.

In the work of Carl Bloch we see the feeling of Christ which John describes in these words:

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:4-5, 11-15

Bloch uses light and darkness to express his feeling for the Savior. Note where the light comes from, where it rests, where the shadows are, and why.

These classically styled works are excellent ones to use for discussion of art terms, such as composition, value, line, focal point, color, etc. as described in "Thought Questions for Analyzing Art."

The Birth of Jesus #200

Moriah-age 5

Jesus was born in a stable. He looks like a golden, skinny baby. All the wise men and shepherds came to see baby Jesus. Jesus was a very kind man. He was good until he was eight so he could be Christ. There is a chicken on the floor. All the children that were sick came to Jesus. They knew that he would heal them. Mary had a baby who was called baby Jesus. She looks like she has brown hair and skin like me. She has a red robe, or dress. The shepherds are being quiet, kneeling down. This man called Joseph is the step-father of baby Jesus. He took Mary to where the baby Jesus was born, on a donkey. Jesus is the Son of God.

Enoch-age 9

The baby is glowing. Mary's face looks soft and smooth. The shepherds look like peasants. Out the window there is a star.

Cleansing of the Temple #224

Riley-age 12

Jesus Christ is in the temple and he is sending out all the merchants and money changers. He is standing in between stairs with people all around him. The people are all grabbing their things and looking at him, scared. He has a whip in his right hand and he is pointing toward the door with his other hand. On the left side of the picture there is a pigeon flying in. There is lots of stuff on the floor. And everything is messy. The light is coming from the same direction as the pigeon and shining in the foreground. The background is dark.. The top half of Christ is in light and the bottom is in the dark. Christ has a halo because he is special. He is in the center of the picture. He looks mad.

Burial of Jesus #231

Isaac-14 years

Jesus is laying on a platform. He has a spear wound in his side. He was wrapped in white linen. You can see his face and his wound. His face is still and calm and peaceful. There are three women who are standing beside him crying. One of them is holding the crown of thorns that was put on his head. There are four men, two of which are wrapping Jesus' body in the white linen. One is telling them where to put the body. The other one is crying and holding his face down as if in shame. I think that is Peter. There are flowers around Jesus and the people. All of the people look sad. The picture makes me feel sad.

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