Who painted The Prophet Balaam and the Angel?

John Linnell painted The Prophet Balaam and the Angel in 1859.

What Bible passage does The Prophet Balaam and the Angel depict?

The Prophet Balaam and the Angel depicts the biblical scene from Numbers 22:21-41.

The Prophet Balaam and the Angel by John Linnell

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John Linnell's painting, "The Prophet Balaam and the Angel," created in 1859, is a masterful work of art that encapsulates both the artist's exceptional talent and the compelling narrative it portrays. Linnell, an English male artist known for his remarkable contributions to the art world, has left an enduring legacy through this captivating piece.

The painting, measuring 71.1 cm in width and 49.2 cm in height (excluding the frame), is an exquisite example of Linnell's proficiency with oil on paper, expertly laid down on canvas. This medium allows for a harmonious fusion of color, texture, and depth, all of which contribute to the artwork's mesmerizing allure.

"The Prophet Balaam and the Angel" explores a poignant moment in a biblical narrative, bringing it to life with vivid and emotionally charged brushwork. The composition captures the dramatic encounter between the prophet Balaam and the divine angel, an event of great significance in the Old Testament. The intensity of the scene is heightened by the contrast between the luminous, ethereal presence of the angel and the apprehensive, almost fearful posture of Balaam.

Linnell's impeccable attention to detail, especially in the rendering of the angel's radiant form, reflects his dedication to his craft and his ability to convey complex emotions through visual art. The interplay of light and shadow, the exquisite anatomical precision, and the angel's serene countenance together create a visually striking and emotionally resonant tableau.

The artwork's presence in The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is a testament to its cultural and historical significance. Acquired through the museum purchase funded by the Brown Foundation Accession Endowment Fund, this painting is a valuable addition to the institution's collection.

In "The Prophet Balaam and the Angel," John Linnell offers viewers a window into a pivotal moment of divine communication, masterfully executed with artistic finesse and spiritual depth. This painting serves as a remarkable testament to Linnell's creative prowess and the enduring power of art to convey profound narratives and emotions. Whether appreciated for its technical excellence or its spiritual resonance, this artwork unquestionably deserves its place of honor within the realm of fine arts.

Details

Artist: John Linnell
Created: 1859
Medium: oil on paper
Dimension: 71.1cm × 49.2cm
Passage: Numbers 22:21-41

Found in: Numbers, Numbers 22, 19th century

Numbers 22:21-41

21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.

24 Then Yahweh’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.

26 Yahweh’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27 The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”

30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”

31 Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

32 Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.

33 The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”

34 Balaam said to Yahweh’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”

35 Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”

38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.”

39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.

Numbers 22:21-41 · World English Bible

The artist

John Linnell

1792 - 1882

London, England

John Linnell was born on the 16th of June in 1792 in Bloomsbury, London, where his father worked as a carver and gilder. From an early age, he was exposed to the artistic world, selling portraits he drew in chalk and pencil by the age of ten. His initial art mentor was the American artist Benjamin West, and he spent a year residing in the household of the painter John Varley. It was there that he encountered fellow pupils like…