07 works, Today, November 19th, is the Prophet Obadiah's day, his story illustrated #322

John Singer Sargent

Prophets Zephaniah, Joel, Obadiah, and Hosea

Frieze

Boston Public Library

John Singer Sargent (January 12, 1856 – April 14, 1925) was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings. His oeuvre documents worldwide travel, from Venice to the Tyrol, Corfu, the Middle East, Montana, Maine, and Florida.

 

His parents were American, but he was trained in Paris prior to moving to London. Sargent enjoyed international acclaim as a portrait painter, although not without controversy and some critical reservation; an early submission to the Paris Salon, his "Portrait of Madame X", was intended to consolidate his position as a society painter, but it resulted in scandal instead. From the beginning his work was characterized by remarkable technical facility, particularly in his ability to draw with a brush, which in later years inspired admiration as well as criticism for a supposed superficiality. His commissioned works were consistent with the grand manner of portraiture, while his informal studies and landscape paintings displayed a familiarity with Impressionism. In later life Sargent expressed ambivalence about the restrictions of formal portrait work, and devoted much of his energy to mural painting and working en plein air. He lived most of his life in Europe. More John Singer Sargent

The holy Prophet Obadiah is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to Baal, but Obadiah faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in secret.

James Tissot, (French, 1836-1902)

Jezebel Advises Ahab (C. 1896-1902)

Oil on canvas

Jewish Museum

Jacques Joseph Tissot (15 October 1836 – 8 August 1902), Anglicized as James Tissot, was a French painter and illustrator. He was a successful painter of Paris society before moving to London in 1871. He became famous as a genre painter of fashionably dressed women shown in various scenes of everyday life. He also painted scenes and characters from the Bible. More on James Tissot

Obadiah is revealed to be what is known as a majordomo, or someone who speaks on behalf of and takes charge for another person. He was in charge of the king Ahab’s palace and the king’s affairs.

Unknown artist

Prophet Obadiah, c. 985

Miniature Minology of Vasily II.

Vatican Library. Rome

While he was employed by Ahab, the King of Israel, he was actually a devoted follower of the LORD. When Jezebel was waging a bloodbath persecution of any and all of God’s prophets, because of her quarrel with the Prophet Elias. 

Unknown artist

Obadiah Hides the Prophets, Published 1695

Publisher: Christoph Weigel

Woodcut

 Pitts Theology Library

Obadiah was running an “underground railroad” of sorts. He hid 100 prophets in two caves, so that if those in one cave should be discovered those in the other might yet escape. On top of that, he supplied them with food and water.

Unknown artist

Prophet Elias, always ahead of the king
I have no further description, at this time

Ahab’s successor King Okhoziah sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the holy Prophet Elias. One of these detachments was headed by the holy Prophet Obadiah. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but Obadiah and his detachment were spared.

Moreover, having lived with two such godless persons as Ahab and Jezebel without learning to act as they did, he seemed the most suitable person to prophesy against Esau (Edom).

James Tissot 1836 – 1902

The Prophet Obadiah, c. 1900

Gouache

25 × 11 cm 

Museum Jewish Museum, New York

From that moment Obadiah resigned from military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. 

Obadiah was very rich, but all his wealth was expended in feeding the poor prophets, until, in order to be able to continue to support them, finally he had to borrow money at interest from Ahab's son Jehoram.

Thomas Matthews Rooke (1842–1942)

Elijah Prophesises to Ahab and Jezebel Their End, c. 1879

Oil on canvas

H 34.5 x W 43.5 cm

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Thomas Matthews Rooke (1842–1942) is best known as Burne-Jones' studio assistant who worked for 'the master' for almost thirty years, and made an invaluable record of Burne-Jones's conversations in the last years of his life. He was also an interesting painter in his own right, producing imaginative and religious subjects in oils together with watercolours, mostly of old buildings.

He received his artistic education at the South Kensington and the Royal Academy Schools and in 1869 applied to work for Morris and Company. He was deputed to Burne-Jones' studio where he remained until the end of Burne-Jones' life. His own religious subjects had some success, for instance The Story of Ruth was bought for the Chantrey Bequest in 1877 (Tate Gallery). In 1878 Burne-Jones recommended him to Ruskin who was looking for artists to record old buildings threatened with demolition or restoration. Until 1893, Rooke spent half his time working for Ruskin; these watercolours are now in the Ruskin Museum, Sheffield. He produced a further series for the Society for the Preservation of Pictorial Records of Ancient Works of Art. These are in the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.

Rooke had a gentle unassuming personality; Burne-Jones wrote of him to Ruskin: "Also there is a very high place in Heaven waiting for him and He Doesn't Know It." He died in his hundredth year in his home in the "aesthetic" suburb of Bedford Park. More on Thomas Matthews Rooke

Afterward, Obadiah himself received the gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of the Prophet Obadiah is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the future salvation of the Gentiles and that the Savior would come forth from Sion. The holy Prophet Obadiah, whose name means servant (or worshipper) of the Lord, was buried in Samaria. More on Obadiah

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