02 Works, RELIGIOUS ART - Interpretation the bible, With Footnotes - 120

Ivar Arosenius, (1878 - 1909)

”Susanna och gubbarne” (Susanna and the Elders), c. 1907

Watercolour on paper

5 x 5.5 cm

Private collection

A fair Hebrew wife named Susanna was falsely accused by lecherous voyeurs. As she bathes in her garden, having sent her attendants away, two lustful elders secretly observe the lovely Susanna. When she makes her way back to her house, they accost her, threatening to claim that she was meeting a young man in the garden unless she agrees to have sex with them.

She refuses to be blackmailed and is arrested and about to be put to death for promiscuity when a young man named Daniel interrupts the proceedings, shouting that the elders should be questioned to prevent the death of an innocent. After being separated, the two men are questioned about details of what they saw, but disagree about the tree under which Susanna supposedly met her lover. In the Greek text, the names of the trees cited by the elders form puns with the sentence given by Daniel. The first says they were under a mastic, and Daniel says that an angel stands ready to cuthim in two. The second says they were under an evergreen oak tree, and Daniel says that an angel stands ready to saw him in two. The great difference in size between a mastic and an oak makes the elders' lie plain to all the observers. The false accusers are put to death, and virtue triumphs. More about Susanna

Ivar Arosenius, (Swedish, 1878–1909) Title:

Susanna and the Elders, c. 1903

Watercolor

6 x 9 cm. (2.4 x 3.5 in.)

Private collection

Ivar Axel Henrik Arosenius (October 8, 1878 – January 2, 1909), was a Swedish painter and author of picture books. In the latter capacity he is most noted for the book Kattresan (The Cat Journey), which was published after his death. He lived in the village of Älvängen, north of Gothenburg. After his death, his house fell into disrepair and was finally demolished. He is buried at Östra kyrkogården in Gothenburg.

In Älvängen, one of the schools, Aroseniusskolan, is named after Ivar Arosenius.


Nowadays, some of Ivar Arosenius' paintings can be seen at the Museum of Art in Gothenburg. More on Ivar Arosenius

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, and The Canals of Venice

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.