Free downloadable Catholic paintings which are in the public domain
The account of Ruth and Boaz comes from the book of Ruth. Ruth was a poor widow staying with her Jewish mother-in-law. She met Boaz, a wealthy landowner, and impressed him with her loyalty and work ethic. He married Ruth, and their great-grandson would be King David. Fugel uses gentle...
This painting depicts the presentation of Christ in the temple (Luke 2:25-38). During Christ's Redemption of the Firstborn ceremony, Simon (a righteous man) and Anna (a prophetess) make prophecies about Christ, His future impact, and how He will redeem the world. Fugel's paintings tend to...
“The birds of the air and the lilies of the field” (1932) by Gebhard Fugel captures the artist’s ongoing engagement with biblical themes, rendered with clarity and contemplative devotion. Created during an era of great uncertainty in Germany, the painting draws inspiration from Christ’s teachings in the Sermon...
“The Burning Thorn Bush” (1932) by Gebhard Fugel emerges from a period of intense religious revival in early 20th-century Germany, where biblical scenes were often revisited to reaffirm spiritual values during times of cultural upheaval. Fugel—well known for his large-scale, immersive religious panoramas—applies his characteristic naturalism and meticulous...
This panel represents Catherine Benincasa of Siena, one of the most influential women of the late Middle Ages. Affiliated with the Dominican order, she was renowned for her devotion to the poor and sick as well as for her mystical visions. In one such vision, she saw herself marked with...
The grief-stricken faces of the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist once faced another panel referencing the Crucifixion. Their expressive features and weighty three dimensionality make their sorrow over Jesus’s death palpably human, while the golden space that they inhabit reinforces their sanctified status. Netherlandish devotional scenes sought to...
"Noli Me Tangere", originating from a predella created in medieval Italy, reflects the transition from Byzantine to early Romanesque artistic styles, characterized by stylized forms and spiritual symbolism over naturalistic representation. This scene, showing the resurrected Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene, was part of a narrative ensemble...
"Birth in Bethlehem" by Gebhard Fugel exemplifies the revival of religious painting in late 19th- and early 20th-century Germany, a period marked by a search for spiritual depth and clarity amidst rapid societal change. Fugel, celebrated for his devout Christian motifs, drew on the traditions of German academic...
Created by Pietro Perugino during the height of the Italian Renaissance, "The Baptism of Christ" (1500–1505) reflects the period’s fascination with harmonious composition, balanced figures, and luminous color. Perugino, renowned as one of the leading artists of his generation and Raphael's teacher, masterfully incorporates...
The "meeting of Anthony and Paul" refers to a famous story from early Christian monasticism. Saint Anthony the Great and Saint Paul of Thebes are considered two of the very first Christian monks (also called Desert Fathers), living in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd and 4th centuries...
Saint Onophrios, also known as Onuphrius or Onofrio, is a Christian saint and hermit who lived in the Egyptian desert, probably in the 4th or 5th century. He is revered in both Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions, especially among Coptic Christians. Free DownloadThis image is in the public domainSaint_Onophrios....
Coptic icons often present the Crucifixion with characteristic stylistic elements—flattened perspective, strong lines, and deeply expressive faces—focusing on spiritual, rather than physical, suffering. These images invite viewers to contemplate the mystery and meaning of Christ's sacrifice. Free DownloadThis image is in the public domainCoptic_Crucifixion_Icon....
The intricate decorative elements, likely executed by a skilled 12th-century artist, reflect the characteristic fusion of Christian symbolism and indigenous Egyptian motifs unique to Coptic art, such as interlacing geometric patterns and stylized floral designs framing the text. The manuscript’s preservation and vivid ornamentation not only testify to the...
The icon exemplifies the stylized spirituality characteristic of Coptic art during this period, with its elongated figure, ascetic features, and symbolic simplicity reflecting Saint Paul's revered status as the first Christian hermit. Free DownloadThis image is in the public domainCoptic_paul.jpg40 KBdownload-circle Please SUBSCRIBE or DONATE to...
The artwork titled "Madonna and Child" is a wall painting from the 12th century, attributed to an anonymous artist from Faras, a region renowned for its Christian art in medieval Nubia (located in modern-day Sudan). It is badly damaged, but one could image the beauty and wonder that...
John the Baptist is a vital figure in Christian theology—the forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for baptizing people in the Jordan River and for his ascetic lifestyle. Icons usually depict him with long hair and beard, often holding a cross or a scroll, sometimes accompanied by a lamb, signifying...
Saint Anthony the Great is honored in the Coptic Orthodox Church as “the Father of Monasticism” and a primary model of holiness, asceticism, and spiritual warfare. Free DownloadThis image is in the public domainAnthony_the_Great_%28coptic_icon%2C_19-20_c.%2C_priv._coll%29.jpg133 KBdownload-circle Please SUBSCRIBE or...
Tradition holds that Saint Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus Christ, retreated to a cave in penitence during the final years of her life. Here, she clutches her purple robes and looks up at the bright divine light that falls upon her. Two attributes, or identifying symbols, of the...
With legs crossed and chin cupped in hand, Luis de Morales’s Jesus is both regal and melancholic. He sits among the instruments of his torture and death: the column to which he was tied during the Flagellation and the cross that he carried and to which he was nailed....
The work features the crucifixion scene with Mary, John, and a clerical figure. It is part of the European Art collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where it has been since 1979. The painting has changed hands several times, most notably when it was sold in Paris in 1954...
Many of Rouault’s works reveal his strong Catholic faith. The Crucifixion, representing Christ’s sacrifice for the salvation of humanity, is a prominent theme. The thick application of vibrant color here is characteristic of the Fauvist movement, with which Rouault was associated. While other Fauves tended to avoid social...
These four panels, together with another one depicting the Resurrection (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), once constituted a predella—a series of small pictures, often narrative scenes, forming the base of an altarpiece. These predella scenes depict moments when Jesus’s divine nature was revealed: at his birth, at...
The term "Effata," meaning "Be opened" in Aramaic, relates to the biblical story of Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. In Gebhard Fugel's painting "Effata," this theme symbolizes spiritual awakening and communication. The artwork captures the transformative power of faith, inviting...
These four panels, together with another one depicting the Resurrection (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), once constituted a predella—a series of small pictures, often narrative scenes, forming the base of an altarpiece. These predella scenes depict moments when Jesus’s divine nature was revealed: at his birth, at...
