Warner Sallman's Head Of Christ
Humor
Windows for Sermons
Stories And Humor For Inspired Preaching
Object:
Dr. Charles R. Goff, the pastor of Chicago Temple Methodist Church in post-World War I days, was lecturing at a Chicago YMCA. He titled his address: "What I think Jesus was like."
The pastor deplored the fact that so many artists' paintings of the years past made Jesus appear pale and with a meek personality. Of course, we know Jesus did suffer on the cross, but Dr. Goff thought Jesus had strong features worth describing. So he told the audience what he thought Jesus might have looked like. He gave a word for word striking description of Jesus.
In an adjoining room, a young unknown artist overheard the pastor's lecture. He was so affected by it that he set out to paint the Head of Christ as Dr. Goff gave his version. The artist was Warner Sallman.
The painting was slow being accepted, at first, because it showed striking features with positive lines, high cheek bones, olive colored skin, and powerful eyes that command attention. This was so different.
It finally appeared on a magazine cover, and people began to ask questions about this new concept in the painting of Christ, so different from the stereotypes of the past.
From there the popularity began. Today it can easily be said that no other painting has had such universal appeal. More copies of this painting have been sold than of any other religious painting, and it is still a best seller.
(I heard Dr. Goff tell this true story years ago at a pastor's meeting.)
The pastor deplored the fact that so many artists' paintings of the years past made Jesus appear pale and with a meek personality. Of course, we know Jesus did suffer on the cross, but Dr. Goff thought Jesus had strong features worth describing. So he told the audience what he thought Jesus might have looked like. He gave a word for word striking description of Jesus.
In an adjoining room, a young unknown artist overheard the pastor's lecture. He was so affected by it that he set out to paint the Head of Christ as Dr. Goff gave his version. The artist was Warner Sallman.
The painting was slow being accepted, at first, because it showed striking features with positive lines, high cheek bones, olive colored skin, and powerful eyes that command attention. This was so different.
It finally appeared on a magazine cover, and people began to ask questions about this new concept in the painting of Christ, so different from the stereotypes of the past.
From there the popularity began. Today it can easily be said that no other painting has had such universal appeal. More copies of this painting have been sold than of any other religious painting, and it is still a best seller.
(I heard Dr. Goff tell this true story years ago at a pastor's meeting.)
