Carl Bloch

Carl Bloch is a Danish painter best known for his Biblical scenes painted in romantic and realistic styles. In particular, his works depicting the life and death of Jesus Christ are considered some of the greatest depictions of the Savior anywhere in art history. His works depict events such as angels appearing to the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth, The Sermon on the Mount, and the temptation of Christ, along with many other notable events from both the New and Old Testament. Bloch’s paintings have become familiar in many religious sects but are commonly seen within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church has utilized his works in meetinghouses, magazines, instructional media, and various other ways.

Carl Bloch was born on May 23, 1834 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of a merchant and his wife who wanted him to become a naval officer – a profession they deemed respectable. Bloch, however, had other aspirations and his parents eventually relented to let him pursue his dream of becoming a painter. At age 18, Bloch began attending the Royal Danish Academy of Art. He studied there for a few years before becoming an official member of the Academy which allowed him to travel around Europe using a grant. In his travels, Bloch studied in Holland, France, and Italy and was heavily inspired by the works of Rembrandt.

After studying abroad, Bloch settled in Italy where he established himself as one of Europe’s finest portrait painters. The style of renaissance artists and the folklore of Italy influenced him greatly, and he produce beautiful works of art that brought him attention from all over the continent. Towards the end of his time in Italy, Bloch was commissioned by the Danish Maecenas to paint 23 paintings for the Frederiksborg Castle Chapel in Denmark. These scenes illustrated the life of Christ and took Bloch nearly 14 years to paint. These paintings would bring Bloch international acclaim and cement him as one of the greatest artists to portray the life of Christ. Tragically, Carl Bloch died of cancer in 1890, but his legacy and position as one of the “old masters” continues on.