Feast of Belshazzar
My depiction of the Feast of Belshazzar. Years ago a student of mine did a mixed media, mostly pastel, version of Rembrandt’s famous painting. I always had fond memories of her work. She was very talented.
Here I have focused on the actual writing showing it carved into the wall. I followed Rembrandt’s scheme of left to right and down in Hebrew lettering. When complete, the words read: Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin (weighed in the balances and found wanting—Aramaic).
It is a digital work and I used the same hand as Rembrandt—not to plagarise but it just seemed fitting in respect to the great master.
Feast of Belshazzar belongs to the following groups:
Complex Simplicity of Art, ***♂♥♥QUORN♥♥♀, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art Inspired by Dreams, Art of the Middle East, AW Welcome Center, Designers United, Graphic Editing 101, Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Myths, Legends and Fairytales, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Practising the Dark Arts, Religious Art & Photography, Safe Haven and Spiritual Art Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
franzi
such a great picture! i love that you focused on the writing itself, and the clarity of the letters. i studied hebrew and i love the language, so i was very much drawn to look at your work. i even prefer this one to rembrandt’s picture (which i just googled to compare :))
well done, i love it!
Jacqueline Baker
Ahhhhhh! A man after my own heart! I studied Biblical Hebrew for a year at the University College of London (UCL) and i loved it! That’s why i was drawn to this image it is fantastic….....makes me look at my life – am i found wanting….gulp!
Robert O'Neill replied
Yes I think perhaps we all are. Have you maintained your studies?
Jacqueline Baker
On and off, i can still read it but the writing side of it has slipped :0(
i have several Hebrew Torahs that i delight to read just for sheer pleasure and it helps my Biblical studies as a Bible teacher :0) what about you?
Robert O'Neill replied
It has slipped a bit when I went to turkey I left most of my materials behind. I quite fancy getting into it again. At the time I was quite good. My Masters Thesis inolved analysis of Greek and Hebrew texts. Are you teaching Biblical studies at College level or in Church?
Jacqueline Baker
Good gracious no i didn’t reach that level, i just teach Jewish background to the Bible in church groups every now and then. Most people around me don’t want to know which is such a shame. How bout you? You obviously reached dizzy heights with your studies Hebrew and Greek but what made you study them?
Robert O'Neill replied
Theology is my main area of study. It was broken down into other areas such as psychology and logic. Learning of Hebrew and Greek were parts of the courses. I also did some teaching in Church groups for a while. As you have found, some are eager to learn; many are not so keen. In general, I think the fromal study of theology is a good thing—it touches every aspect of human life.
It was very interesting thologically speaking being in Turkey.
Olga
Very well done!
Robert O'Neill replied
Thanks Olga. I like this one very much myself. I love Daniel’s story regard this incident as the highlight.
Kim Soltes
This is great!
Robert O'Neill replied
Thank you Kinberlolly
Lozzle
very nice
Robert O'Neill replied
Thanks Lozzle.
KEITH R. WILL...
very nice
Eyal Nahmias
Wonderful design, color and PS work. I just wanted to correct you on one thing. If you read the letters as you said, from top to bottom it is indeed a”Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin” but the 4th letter from right on top line should be a Vav ( ו )and you placed a final Nun ( ן ).. They look alike but the later is longer. To read in Hebrew it is normally from right to left & across, not up / down.. BTW the words are not hebrew. I did compare it with the original, and I like the simplicity of your design. The letters, surface and hands are harmonious and seamless. A fantastic addition to the Art of the Middle East group.
Robert O'Neill replied
Thanks for the vieW Eyal. It was meant to be a vav—perhaps the keyboard and font didn’t quite match up. Yes, the ‘mystery’ is why they were not able to read their own language. Rembrandt’s idea was that the lettering was in Hebrew and written top to bottom and left to right. As we know it’s Rembrandt’s baroque fantasy. Some surmise he was friendly with the Jewish community in his city and the ideas may have been circling about the writing. I think it is a great painting.
Nira Dabush
ממתוס נקפי אאלר
I’m quite surprised by this Hebrew text, dear Rob. It’s the first time I read such words in Hebew, I must say. Yes.. I read your explanation here – Thank you!
Wonderful work, Rob… bravo!
Robert O'Neill replied
Thanks Nira. Well as Eyal said it’s Aramaic transcribed into Hebrew by Rembrandt. Glad you like it.
Nira Dabush
OK… Thanks for the reply.. I guess I haven’t read, or seen in the morning, Eyal’s …
:-).. Good evening from Israel.