1870

1870 (art) – Salome

Henri Regnault (French, 1843-1871)

The transformation of Salome into an Oriental beauty. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, USA.

1871

1871 (novel) – The Victory of the Vanquished

Elisabeth Rundle Charles (English, 1828-1896)

Life of the early Christians, ca.70-80 CE. Published in London and New York.

1871 (art) – The Shadow of Death

William Holam Hunt (British, 1827-1910)

Yet another celebrated painting from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. At the City Art Galleries in Manchester, England.

1871 (poem) – Hérodiade / Herodias

Stéphane Mallarmé (French, 1842-1898)

"Fragment d'une étude scénique ancienne d'un poème d'Hérodiade." First published in the journal Le Parnasse contemporain (1871). Translated into English by Arthur Symons (London 1896), and German by Stefan Anton George (Berlin 1905)

1872

1872 (novel) – Ein Tag in Capernaum / A Day in Caparnaum

Franz Julius Delitzsch (German, 1813-1890)

A historical novel by the distinguished theologian, scholar and Hebraist at the University of Leipzig, who sought to sketch, in a realistic manner, a day of Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum. An early example of a genre which would be then pursued by other scholars, as a way to illustrate and popularize their work. Translated into English by John Gottllieb Morris in 1873 and then by George Henry Schodde in 1887.

1872 (art) – Hérodiade

Henri-Léopold Lévy (French, 1840-1904)

At the Musée de Brest, France.

1872 (play) – Judas Maccabaeus

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American, 1807-1882)

A drama in five acts by the most popular American poet of his day. First published in Three Books of Songs (ed. Boston), was translated in Russian, German, and Hebrew.

1873

1873 (art) – Scenes from the Life of Jesus

Alexandre Bida (French, 1813-1895)

Another fundamental step in the establishment of an “Oriental” setting for the life of Jesus. First printed in Les saints Evangiles (Paris 1873). Among the most popular illustrations of the Gospels, in 1874 were already published also in London and New York, and then reprinted in numerous editions.

1873 (oratorio) – Marie-Magdeleine / Mary Magdalen

Jules Massenet (French 1842-1912), mus.
Louis Gallet (French 1835-1898), libr.

“Oratorio per soli, chorus and orchestra.” First international success for young composer, destined to a stellar career.  Premiered at the Théâtre de l’Odéon in Paris, France on 11 April 1873. Translated into English by Henry S. Leigh (London 1882).

1873 (opera) – Die Makkabäer / The Maccabees

Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein (Jewish-Russian, 1829-1894), mus.
Salomon Hermann Mosenthal (Jewish-German, 1821-1877), libr.

Based on Ludwig’s play (1852), premiered at the Königl. Oper in Berlin, Germany, on 17 April 1875. Translated into Russian and Hebrew.

1873 (art) – The First Meeting of Christ and Mary Magdalene

Henryk Siemiradsky (Polish, 1843-1902)

At the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1873 (play) – The Coming of the Messiah

Samuel Hobart Winkley (American, 1819-1911)

Juvenile literature. Sunday School play in three scenes. With the exception of Zachariah and John, the characters are all Jewish women, most of whom hail Jesus as the Messiah. Rev. Winkley was a minister and leader of the Unitarian Church in Boston. First published in Poetical Dramas for Home and School, a collection of religious plays edited by Mary L. Cobb.

1874

1874 (play) – Alexander the Great

Aubrey De Vere (Irish, 1814-1902)

A dramatic poem by noted Irish poet and critic. Act II, scene 7, relates to the visit of Alexander to the temple of Jerusalem and his conversation with the high-priest. Published in Dublin and London.

1874 (art) – Christian Persecutors at the Entrance to the Catacombs

Henryk Siemiradsky (Polish, 1843-1902)

Private collection. Late 19th century Russian and Polish painters often focused on such subjects promoting the ideals of self-sacrifice and suffering.

1876

1876 (art) – Ahasuerus, the Wandering Jew

Maurycy Gottlieb (Jewish-Polish, 1856-1879)

At the National Museum in Cracow, Poland.

1876 (art) – Mary Magdalene in the Grotto

Jules-Joseph Lefebvre (French, 1836-1911)

At the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1876 (art) – Stories of Salome

Gustave Moreau (French, 1826-1898)

A fundamental step in the evolution of the Salome character, from innocent victim to seductress. The stories include: (a) Salome Dancing Before Herod [Armand Hammer Museum of Art in Los Angeles, USA]; The Apparition [Musée Gustave Moreau in Paris, France]; (c) The Dance of Salome; and (d) Salome in the Prison

1876 (art) – Nero’s Torches

Henryk Siemiradzki (Polish, 1843-1902)

At the National Museum in Krakow, Poland.

1877

1877 (poem) – Hérodiade / Herodias

Gustave Flaubert (French, 1821-1880)

Herod Antipas casts aside the daughter of Aretas, king of the Nabathaeans, and marries Herodias, his half-brother's wife, involving the country in war. Translated in English and other languages.

1877 (play) – Pilatos / Pilate

José Zorrilla (Spanish, 1817-1893)

“Drama religioso-fantástico en tres actos.” Published in Madrid, Spain.

1878

1878 (novel) – Philochristus

Edwin A. Abbott (English, 1838-1926)

“Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord.” In Britain, about 80 CE, a Galilean (born in Sepphoris) remembers his meeting with Jesus. First of three novels on Christian origins by English schoolmaster and theologian, pioneer in liberal scholarship. Published in London and Boston. Followed by Onesimus (1882) and Silanus (1906).

c1878 (art) – Christ Before His Judges

Maurycy Gottlieb (Jewish-Polish, 1856-1879)

At the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Israel.

1879

1879 (art) - Jesus among the Doctors

Max Liebermann (German, 1847-1935)

At the Kunsthalle Museum in Hamburg, Germany.

1879 (art) – Caesar’s Entertainment

Vasili Dmitrievich Polenov (Russian, 1844-1927)

Yet another painting from the Polish-Russian school focusing on the persecution and suffering of early Christians. At the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.

1879 (opera) – Judas Maccabäus / Judas Maccabeus

Hermann Zopff (German; 1826-1883), mus.
Heinrich Philipp Wolff (German, 1813-1886), libr.

German opera, published in Leipzig in 1879, premiered in Magdeburg in 1881.