Sheppy Dog Fund Lecture: Rembrandt’s Images of Jesus & the Jewish Community of Amsterdam

Guest Lecturer Dr. Shelley Perlove, Professor of Art History at the University of Michigan-Dearborn

There are many interpretations regarding the appearance of Jesus, but none so significant as the paintings of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn. In the 1640’s Rembrandt developed a radically different concept of Jesus, making him the first Western artist to portray Jesus as Jewish.

Accordingly, join guest lecturer Dr. Shelley Perlove, Professor of Art History at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, as she presents the Flint Institute of Arts’ first Sheppy Dog Fund Lecture, Rembrandt’s Images of Jesus & the Jewish Community of Amsterdam, on January 12, 2012, at 6 p.m. in the FIA Theater. This lecture is open to the public, free of charge. Click here to find the event on Facebook.

During Rembrandt’s life, Amsterdam was a city of religious toleration where Jews fled from religious persecution in Iberia and Eastern Europe, escaping the violence of the Inquisition and mob attacks. While living in a Jewish neighborhood from 1639-58, Rembrandt clearly demonstrated a fascination for Jewish rituals and dress, and even attempted a faithful reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple in his art.

Rembrandt’s Images of Jesus & the Jewish Community of Amsterdam investigates the various ways Rembrandt’s proximity to contemporary Jews inspired his brilliant interpretations of events from the life of Jesus, as well as his deeply moving images of Jews, and especially the face of Jesus.

More About Dr. Shelley Perlove:

Dr. Shelley Perlove is a professor of art history at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is the author of two monographs: Bernini and the Idealization of Death, and more recently with Larry Silver, Rembrandt’s Faith: Church and Temple in the Dutch Golden Age, both published by Penn State University Press. In addition, Dr. Perlove has written more than 25 published essays on Italian, Dutch, and Flemish art and was invited to participate in an international symposium of experts on Rembrandt, sponsored by Queen’s University at Herstmonceux Castle, England.

Dr. Perlove holds a Ph.D. History of Art from the University of Michigan, M.A. Art History and Museum Theory and Practice from Wayne State University, and B.A. Art History from New York University.

The Sheppy Dog Fund Lecture has been established to address the topics of art, religion and history prior to the 19th century. 

Educator Workshop – Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney

Jerry Pinkney. Photo by Thomas Kristich, 2008.

You’ve read his books – now learn the art of storytelling from award-winning author and illustrator Jerry Pinkney.  You won’t want to miss this Educator Workshop, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, on Jan. 21 from 9:45a – 4:30p.

Join us as we explore the interrelationship between art, music, and literature in the classroom. Moreover, listen to Mr. Pinkney discuss his passion for history through works that speak to the African-American experience and the wonder of classic tales.

Afterwards, be the first to receive a tour of the exhibition, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, which doesn’t open to public until the following day.

Lastly, we’ll try our hand at book binding techniques, writing in the galleries, and journaling for K-12 lessons in language arts, history or art.

Educator Workshops at the Flint Institute of Arts cost $75 and are especially rewarding for pre- and in-service teachers, home school parents, and education volunteers.  SB-CEU credits are available through the Genesee Intermediate School District and each Educator Workshop carries .5 SB-CEU at no additional charge. Graduate Credit is also available through the University of Michigan-Flint for an extra charge. For more information about credit options, please contact Sheena at the Education Department through e-mail at flintartsed@me.com or by phone at 810.237.7314.

Illustration from The Lion and the Mouse, Jerry Pinkney, 2009. ©2009 Jerry Pinkney Studio. All rights reserved.

More about Jerry Pinkney:

Mr. Pinkney has been illustrating books for young and old since 1964, completing over one hundred titles. He has received five Coretta Scott King Awards, five Caldecott Honors, and the 2010 Caldecott Medal for his adaptation of The Lion and the Mouse (2009). His books have been translated into sixteen languages and published in fourteen countries. In 2011, he was elected into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

 In addition to his work with children’s books, Mr. Pinkney has exhibited in over 130 solo and group shows, and conducts workshops with schools and teachers throughout the country. An inspiration to many, Mr. Pinkney openly shares insights and understanding into his experience with dyslexia and how it has shaped his life.

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney

Illustration from The Sweethearts of Rhythm, Jerry Pinkney, 2009. ©2009 Jerry Pinkney Studio. All rights reserved.

It’s not always common to find an artist whose work continues to influence generation after generation, but author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney is doing exactly that. A master of the American picturebook, Pinkney creates unforgettable visual narratives that reflect deeply felt personal and cultural themes, bearing witness to the African-American experience, the wonders of classic literature, and the wisdom in well-loved folk tales.

As a result, you won’t want to miss the first major overview of Pinkney’s extraordinary, 50-year career with Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney, only at the Flint Institute of Arts from January 22, 2012 through April 15, 2012.

With nearly 160 works of art in the collection, Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney features luminous watercolor paintings and richly detailed drawings created for best-loved books and carefully researched historical commissions.

On display will be original illustrations for The Lion and The Mouse, The Old African, John Henry, Black Cowboys/Wild Horses, The Little Match Girl and other books. In addition, site-specific commissions will be available for viewing, including illustrations for the African Burial Ground Interpretive Center in New York City, the National Parks Service Carver National Monument in Missouri, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Ohio.

A popular and critically acclaimed artist, Jerry Pinkney was recently presented with the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 2010 for The Lion and The Mouse (2009). The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picturebook for children that year. Overall, Pinkney is the recipient of five Caldecott Honor Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards, and a lifetime achievement award from the Society of Illustrators in New York, in addition to many other honors.

A native of Philadelphia, Jerry Pinkney has produced illustrations for over one hundred titles. The author currently lives with his wife, author Gloria Jean, in Westchester County, New York.

Illustration from Little Red Riding Hood, Jerry Pinkney, 2007. ©2007 Jerry Pinkney Studio. All rights reserved.

Check-out FIA’s complete programming for Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney:

Jan. 21, 2012: Educator Workshop

Jan. 21, 2012: Community Gala

Jan. 22, 2012: Reading & Book Signing with Jerry Pinkney

Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

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