The Vision of Ezekiel by Francisco Collantes
Francisco Collantes was a landscape painter, one of the numerous pupils of Vicente Carducho.
The prophet Ezekiel is known to us through the Book of the Bible which bears his name. Probably deported into Babylon around 579 BC, he lived with the captive Jews in exile and pronounced his prophecies in the region of present day Tel Aviv. One day, his life was penetrated with the "glory of the Lord", which he discovered in a series of visions. In one of his visions, the Lord went with him as he walked in a valley full of dry bones.At the Word of God, the bones rose up and "lived", and "an exceeding great army" arose in their place. This event heralded Israel's rebirth, and would be read by Christians as the annunciation of the resurrection of the body at the Last Judgment.
Details
- Artist
- Francisco Collantes
- Created
- 1630
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimension
- 205cm × 177cm
- Passage
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
- Housed at
- Museo del Prado Paseo del Prado, Madrid
Found in: Ezekiel, Ezekiel 37, 17th century, Babylonian Captivity and Return, Prophet
Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 Yahweh’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in Yahweh’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
2 He caused me to pass by them all around: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and behold, they were very dry.
3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”
4 Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.
5 Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.
6 I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’
12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh.’”
Ezekiel 37:1-14 · World English Bible
The artist
Francisco Collantes
1599 - 1656
Madrid, Spain
Francisco Collantes (1599–1656) was a Spanish Baroque era painter. Collantes was born in Madrid but sought influence from Jusepe de Ribera and the Neapolitan School. He was also influenced by 16th century Venetian painters and was renowned for his landscapes and biblical scenes. His works included The Burning Bush (c. 1634) which is now at the Louvre, Agar and Ishmael which is now at the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, in Providence, and The Vision of Ezekiel,…