Caravaggio's depiction of the two shocked disciples who discover that Jesus is alive following his crucifixion. Jesus gave thanks and broke bread when they suddenly recognized him. Luke 24

Looking at Domenichino's huge "Saint John the Evangelist", which depicts him pausing his writing of the fourth gospel to receive inspiration from God.

Examining the head of John the Baptist being put on a sliver platter as described in Mark 6. Caravaggio oddly depicts a matter-of-fact executioner and a repulsed Salome.

Telling the story of Alexander the Great's defeat of Darius III, in which Darius's family was left behind as Darius fled the battlefield. Alexander had a profound influence on the New Testament.

Discussing Leonardo da Vinci's depiction of Mary, Jesus and John the Baptist.

Contemplating the odd story of Lot's two daughters plying him with wine after escaping Sodom. Abraham Bloemaert's painting is drawn from Genesis 19.

Guercino's The Incredulity of Thomas is the topic of discussion. John 20 tells of a skeptical Thomas feeling the permanent wounds of a resurrected Jesus.

King Belshazzar gets the shock of his life when a hand writes on the wall as he has a banquet. Rembrandt's Feast of Belshazzar gives us the moment in Daniel 5 when the hand appears.

Examining the intricate detail of Jan Gossaert's The Adoration of the Kings, a fanciful interpretation of Matthew 2.

Delving into the apocryphal story of Judith. Judith in the Tent of Holofernes, by Johann Liss, depicts the moment Judith saves her home town by decapitating the enemy general Holofernes.

The Marriage of Cana, by Mattia Preti, gives an interpretation of John 2, Jesus's first miracle.

The Adoration of the Golden Calf, by Nicolas Poussin, depicts the wayward Israelites worshipping an idol after Moses went away to get the 10 commandments as told in Exodus 32.

Talking about a common subject, the escape to Egypt by Jesus, Mary and Joseph as shown in The Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Pieter Lastman. Inspired by Matthew 2.

Talking about Jacob scolding his father-in-law Laban for giving him Leah instead of Rachel after 7 years of hard work. Genesis 29

Looking at The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen (Caracci?), a dramatic colorful depiction of Acts 7. The scene not only marks the demise of Stephen, but the introduction of Saul, later known as Paul.

Discussing the dramatic events leading up to the scene depicted in Elijah Fed By Ravens. Despite seeing the mighty power of God, 1 Kings 17 paints a dreary picture of Elijah, who fears for his life.

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Private and Luxury
Historical Tours
Weather Dependent - Moderate
Walking Tours

Explore Bible Art at the National Gallery of London

5.0(29 reviews)London, EnglandOperated by London Bible Tours

Duration3 hours – 4 hours
GroupShared · max 10
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish

About this activity

Have you ever wandered through a huge museum wondering what you should be seeing, or perhaps feeling like you're missing out on something? Do you want to make the Bible come alive in a life-changing way?

In this semi-private guided tour, you'll stand in front of world famous paintings while discussing the Bible.

You will get to connect Bible passages to the paintings, then place it in a timeline so that you will understand the Bible like never before. Bible verses will no longer just be words on the page when you see a master artist bring the passage to life. As you place each event on the timeline, you will understand how they relate to each other in history.

Experience famous artwork by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Caravaggio in person rather than on a screen. The time range for most of the paintings is from the 1500s to the 1800s.

The emphasis of the tour is more on the Bible story than artistic techniques though the technical side will be mentioned from time to time.

What to expect

3 hours – 4 hours1 stopsShared tourMax 10 travellers

The National Gallery
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom
3 hours
We’ll wind our way through the various galleries and see the familiar world of Jesus including scenes of his birth, miracles, death and resurrection. There are numerous paintings of the Israelites from Joseph to Moses to David. We'll also see depictions of legends attributed to various Biblical people, and discuss scenes from the apocryphal writings. The apocrypha are stories that are part of some Bibles but excluded from other Bibles. All paintings are “representational art”; that is, the subjects are clearly identifiable with minimal guessing as to who is being depicted. You’ll come face to face with great artwork that is hundreds of years old and you’ll understand your Bible like never before. As time permits and interest dictates, we can also view famous Greek myths, well-known historical events and works by familiar artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Michelangelo. Please note that paintings move around the museum and are taken off display on a regular basis.

Pickup & meeting point

There is no pickup — all travellers meet at the start point.

Start

Once past the security check, go downstairs to the members desk and small bookstore.

End / drop-off

Once past the security check, go downstairs to the members desk and small bookstore.

What's included

Included

Optional portable folding stools upon request
Google Doc of relevant Bible passages

Good to know

Accessibility & suitability

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Traveller requirements

Minimum 1 traveller per booking
Maximum 10 travellers per booking
At least one adult must be included in the booking
Age bands: Child (8–12), Youth (13–17), Adult (18–100)

Additional information

Book free museum entry ticket (any time will suffice): https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/plan-your-visit/gallery-entry
Install the Viator app on your phone to view several important messages in proper format.

Languages

Guide: English
Written: English

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Important booking information

Booking cut-off: Bookings close 4 hours before the activity starts.
Confirmation: Manual
Tickets: One per booking
Local time zone: Europe/London
Product code: 447990P2

What you'll be asked when booking

Any special requirements

Traveller reviews

5.0/ 529 reviews

Ratings aggregated from Viator (5) and Tripadvisor (24).

Ready to book Explore Bible Art at the National Gallery of London?

From GBP 55.8 per person · Free cancellation available

Check dates & book

Activity information provided by Viator, an authorized travel partner. Gateera does not operate this activity.

FromGBP 55.8

Select date

About this activity

The National Gallery

What's included

Included

Good to know

Accessibility & suitability

Traveller requirements

Additional information

Languages

Cancellation policy

Important booking information

What you'll be asked when booking

Traveller reviews

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Ready to book Explore Bible Art at the National Gallery of London?