Creation

In theological terms, creation is both an action of God, and the result of that action. Creation is all that has been made: human and non-human; sentient and non-sentient. The word ‘creation’ denotes the earth, and the larger universe of which it is part. But creation also names the free divine initiative which has summoned that universe into being and declared ‘it is good’. The exhibitions that follow explore both aspects of the word, as well as the way that Christianity proclaims the renewal of creation, beginning on the morning of the resurrection.

The Creation from the series Illustrations of the Bible by John Martin. • A monochrome print depicting a dark scene of waves, rocks, and clouds. At centre-right, a bearded figure (God) is shown in the sky, his flowing hair and garments blending into the clouds. His outstretched hand conjures a patch of light to his left, which begins to illuminate the scene. Celestial bodies (sun, moon and stars?) are depicted in the sky.

Baptistry window in Coventry Cathedral by John Piper and Nicholas Patrick Reyntiens. Photo of a floor-to-ceiling, stained glass window in Coventry Cathedral. The window consists of a grid of glass and stone, letting light in and blocking it out. Yellow glass panels in the centre are in a roughly circular shape, with greener panels surrounding them. Red dominates the vertical sides of the window, while the top is primarily dark blue. Many of the panels are a mixture of yellow, green, blue and red

"The Division of the Light from the Darkness," illustration III, in the book Genesis from the Bible (Soho, London: The Nonesuch Press) by Paul Nash. This monochrome print displays a series of sharp and straight black and white lines, overlapping and pointing in different directions. The angular nature of these lines mimics rays of light against the darkness.

Genesis 1:3–5 Let There be Light

The Nebra Sky Disk by unknown artist. Photograph of the Nebra Sky Disc, an agèd bronze disc with a blue-green underlay and gold symbolic detailing to depict cosmic bodies in the night sky. In addition to the small golden circles scattered across the disc (mimicking the stars), there are four larger golden symbols: a large circle on the left, a crescent on the right, a thick arc along the right-hand edge of the disc, and an inverted arc underneath the circle and crescent shapes.

Peapod with ten biblical scenes, by unknown German artist. • This wooden object, which mimics a peapod, opens to reveal five internal ‘peas’. Each spherical pea opens on a hinge and exposes two intricate carvings, detailing biblical scenes. These are taken from Genesis, including the creation and eventual disobedience of Adam and Eve, and the New Testament, with scenes of the annunciation and crucifixion, among others, included.

Fossil Necklace, by Katie Paterson. A long, beaded necklace of 170 dainty spherical beads set against a black background. The beads vary in colour but are primarily different shades of brown and grey, giving the necklace and natural and earthly appearance.

Genesis 1:6–23 The Heavens and the Earth

The Creation of the World, Endpaper from Wittenberg Luther Bible of 1534 by Lucas Cranach the Younger and Monogrammist MS

The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Tapestry of Creation (The Girona Tapestry) by Unknown artist

Genesis 1:24–31 The Sixth Day of Creation

The Garden of Eden, by Thomas Cole

The Garden of Earthly Delights Triptych by Hieronymus Bosch

Carpet, by an unknown Persian artist

Genesis 2:9–17 The Garden of Eden

Adam in the Earthly Paradise, diptych valve from the Carrand Diptych by unknown artist

Adam Naming the Animals, detail from the Creation by Unknown Venetian artist

Adam in Paradise by Unknown artist

Genesis 2:18–20 Adam Naming the Animals

Adam and Eve, from The Sarajevo Haggadah, by and unknown Spanish artist

Rebecca 1, by Elena Dorfman

Inner Light I, by Liliane Lijn

Genesis 2:21–25 Woman, the World’s First Idol

Behemoth and Leviathan from Illustrations of the Book of Job by William Blake

Leviathan by Anish Kapoor

God Wants His People by Trevor Makhoba

Job 40–41 Behemoth and Leviathan

Psalm 92 [93 MT] from Utrecht Psalter by Unknown artist, Reims/Hautvillers

Psalm 93 by Bernard C. Winter

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt van Rijn

Psalm 93 Over Troubled Water

Animalia Rationalia et Insecta (Ignis): Plate XI by Joris Hoefnagel

Animalia Rationalia et Insecta (Ignis): Plate XII by Joris Hoefnagel

Animalia Rationalia et Insecta (Ignis): Plate XIV by Joris Hoefnagel

Psalm 145 All Creatures Great and Small

The Visitation by Unknown Cypriot Artist

The Visitation by Pontormo

The Visitation by El Greco

Luke 1:39–45 Quickening Creation

More Exhibitions

Jacob and the Angel by Jacob Epstein

Vision of the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel) by Paul Gauguin

Jakob Ringt mit den Engel (Jacob Wrestles with the Angel) by Max Beckmann

Genesis 32:22–32 Jacob Wrestling the Angel

Two Travellers by Jack B. Yeats

Tobias and the Angel by Andrea del Verrocchio and workshop

Glass fragment with Tobias and the Fish by Unknown Roman artist

Tobit 6–7 Tobias and the Angel

Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The Annunciation by Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi

The Annunciation, by Filippo Lippi

Luke 1:26–38 The Annunciation