Free downloadable Catholic paintings which are in the public domain
Details: This panel once formed the left wing of an altarpiece originally located in a Cistercian convent in the German town of Fröndenberg. The Coronation of the Virgin was a common subject; though it is not based on a biblical text it often appeared in medieval books of hours as...
Details: The Gospel of James (or the Protoevangelium of James) is a 2nd-century infancy gospel telling of the miraculous conception of the Virgin Mary, her upbringing and marriage to Joseph, the journey of the holy couple to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and events immediately following. Mary is presented as...
Details: Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details: Saint Anthony Preaching to the Fish (Italian: Predica di sant'Antonio ai pesci; literally, Sermon of Saint Anthony to the Fishes) is a 1580–1585 oil on canvas painting of Anthony of Padua by Paolo Veronese, now in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. Its original location is unknown,...
Details: Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details: In The Crucifixion with the Converted Centurion, Lucas Cranach the Elder chose to portray a scene of religious redemption. The crucified Christ, silhouetted against a darkened and troubled sky, is at the point of death; his last words from the cross are inscribed above him in German: VATER IN...
Details: The Finding of Moses is a 1580 oil on canvas painting by Paolo Veronese of the finding of Moses, which has been in the Musee des Beaux Arts de Dijon since 1812. Its attribution to Veronese is early, with Lépicié stating it was "painted by the artist at...
Details Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified “Miracles of...
Details In the seventeenth century, Ethiopian artists were increasingly exposed to forms of expression from Europe. During this period, double-sided diptychs became popular among the nobility as pendant icons worn suspended by a cord around the neck. The subject matter depicted on this example is a standard program for this...
Details In the seventeenth century, Ethiopian artists were increasingly exposed to forms of expression from Europe. During this period, double-sided diptychs became popular among the nobility as pendant icons worn suspended by a cord around the neck. The subject matter depicted on this example is a standard program for this...
Details Although Orthodox Christianity has been practiced in the highlands of Ethiopia since the 4th century, this elaborate triptych is rendered in the courtly First Gonderine style, which flourished during the reign of King Iyyasu I (1682–1706) and incorporated bold, richly decorated forms and figures. With its central panel...
Details This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels was created at a monastic center in northern Ethiopia. Twenty full-page paintings depict scenes from the life of Christ and four portraits of the evangelists introduce the respective Gospel texts. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Geez, the classical language...
Details The Adoration of the Magi by the Venetian artist Paolo Veronese is a large oil painting on canvas dated to 1573 which has been in the National Gallery, London since 1855, shortly after it was sold by the Venetian church for which it was commissioned. It shows the common...
Details The largest painting ever done by Caravaggio and the only one he signed. The subject of the painting is the execution of John the baptist. According to the gospels Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, had imprisoned John the Baptist. Herod was so pleased by the dancing of...
Details The Allegory of the Battle of Lepanto (c. 1572, oil on canvas, 169 x 137 cm, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice) is a painting by Paolo Veronese. The lower half of the painting shows the events of the battle, whilst at the top a female personification of Venice is...
Details The Conversion of Mary Magdalene is an oil painting, an early work by the Italian Renaissance artist based in Venice, Paolo Veronese (1528–1588). He was known for his sumptuous paintings with a dramatic and colourful style. Dating from circa 1545–1548, the painting was commissioned by a noble...
Details This is a very popular subject for painters. The oldest depictions are from the 10th century and has been popular ever since. According to Legenda sanctorum or Legenda aurea, this story took place in Libya at a fictional city. Near the city a dragon dwelled which devestated the countryside....
Details This is another favorite painting of mine. The subject of the painting is Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. According to the bible a Roman centurion approached Jesus for help because a servant of his was sick. Jesus offered to go to the house of the centurion to...
Details A painting by the Dutch artist Abraham Bloemaert (1564-1651). The painting shows a scene from the Biblical book of Genesis (Genesis 42:1-17). Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers. In Egypt Joseph came into the service of Potiphar, the captain of...
Details ‘Martyrdom of St. Denis’ was created in 1886 by Leon Bonnat in Academicism style. Saint Denis is a Christian martyr from the third century. Denis was Bishop of Paris and made many conversions with his speeches. The local Roman priest were alarmed by this and had Denis together with...
Details The finest textiles and dress associated with the aristocracy were often represented in religious paintings. Here, the Virgin is clothed in a fashionably tailored dress with close-fitted sleeves made of luxurious velvet. Gold thread forms the pomegranate pattern on the deep crimson velvet ground. Saint Sebastian (on the right)...
Details This painting, produced by one of Fra Filippo Lippi’s many imitators in the city of Florence, is very close to the composition of the now lost central panel of the triptych commissioned by the Medici family in 1457. It was purchased by Mrs. L. E. Holden before the...
Details ‘The fountain at St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome’ was created in 1868 by Leon Bonnat in Academicism style. Fountains mark very important locations in Rome. It adds a very soothing and relaxing ambiance while enjoying and learning about the different facts and places in Rome. One of...
Details ‘Samson’ was created in c.1858 by Frederic Leighton in Academicism style. In the Hebrew Bible, Samson (/ˈsæmsən/; Hebrew: שִׁמְשׁוֹן, Šīmšōn, "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13...
