1880

c1880 (art) – Salomé / Salome

Charles Levy (French, c1820-1899)

Bronze statuette of Salome as Judith.

1880 (novel) – Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Lew Wallace (American, 1827-1905)

The first novel on NT times to gain superstar status as the best-selling American novel of the 19th century, surpassing Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) and retaining this distinction until the publication of Mitchell’s Gone with Wind (1936). Wallace, a retired general and politician, drew on military and personal experience to shape the character of the noble Jew Judah and his confrontation with the Roman general Messala, until his meeting with Jesus and his conversion to the new faith. Huge international success was translated in all major European (and non-European) languages.

1881

1881 (novel) – The Legend of Thomas Didymus, the Jewish Sceptic

James Freeman Clarke (American, 1820-1888)

A novel by a clergyman of the Unitarian Church, one of the most influential religious leaders and preachers in 19th cent. America. Published in Boston.

1881 (art) – Queen Herodiade

Benjamin Jean Joseph Constant (French, 1845-1902)

At the Collection of Fred and Sherry Ross.

1881 (novel) – Der Kaiser / The Emperor

Georg Ebers (German, 1837-1898)

A fictional portrait of the Emperor Hadrian includes references to his relationship with early Christianity in 2nd-cent. Egypt. Published in Stuttgart; translated into English, Ukrainian, and Russian. By famous Egyptologist who popularized his discoveries with a series of successful historical novels.

1881 (novel) – Die Claudier / Quintus Claudius

Ernst Eckstein (German, 1845-1900)

"Roman aus der römischen Kaiserzeit." Picture of life and manners in Rome, at Baiae, and elsewhere, in the reign of Domitian (95-96 CE), includes references to early Christianity. Translated into English (New York 1882)

1881 (novel) – Antinous

Adolf D. Hausrath (German, 1837-1909)

“Historischer Roman aus der römischen Kaiserzeit." Contrasting principles of Christianity and paganism appear in this story of the page deified by Hadrian. Published at Leipzig in 1880, by the German scholar and theologian, under the pseudonym “George Taylor.” Translated into Dutch and English.

1881 (opera) – Hérodiade / Herodias

Jules Massenet (French, 1842-1912), mus.
Paul Milliet (French, b.1855), libr.
Henri Gremont (French, 1843-1900), libr.

Based on the 1877 poem by Flaubert, premiered at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium, on 19 Dec 1881. Deserted as a child by her mother, Salome is a slave of Herod Antipas, who lusts after her not knowing that the girl in his wife’s daughter. Salome would share the same destiny of death with John the Baptist of whom she is tenderly in love. An international success, performed in all major European theaters.

1882

1882 (art) – Panorama of Jerusalem on the Day of the Crucifixion

Anon 19th cent

The enormous three-dimensional panorama of Jerusalem on the day of the Crucifixion was created in Munich, Germany, between 1878 and 1882, and has been on view since 1895 in Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre, near the city of Quebec in Canada. Here in a lithographic reproduction published in 1890 in Philadelphia.

1882 (novel) - Onesimus, Christ's Freedman

Edwin A. Abbott (English, 1938-1926)

“Memoirs of a Disciple of St. Paul.” Onesimus remembers his friendship with Paul and his personal experiences as a Christian in various localities, including Lystra, Colossae, Antioch, Athens, Corinth, and Rome, roughly, between 46 and 86 CE. Second of three novels on Christian origins by English schoolmaster and theologian, pioneer in liberal scholarship. Published in London And Boston. Preceded  by Philochristus (1878), followed by Silanus (1906).

1882 (play) – Maria di Magdala / Mary of Magdala

Pietro Calvi (Italian, 1839-1900)

“Dramma in versi in 4 atti e un epilogo.” Was published and premiered in Rome at Teatro Costanzi in 1882.

1882 (operetta) – Bar Kokhba

Abraham Goldfaden (Jewish-Russian, 1840-1908), mus. and libr.

Yiddish operetta deals with the Jewish revolt against the Romans in the second century CE. Translated into English in 1908.

1883

1883 (art) – The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer

Jean-Léon Gérome (French, 1824-1904)

At the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, USA.

1883 (oratorio) – St. Mary Magdalen [English]

John Stainer (English, 1840-1901), mus.          
William J. Sparrow-Simpson (English, 1859-1952), libr.

“A sacred cantata.” Published in London; premiered at the Gloucester Festival. By the acclaimed English composer and organist of the Anglican Church.

1884

1884 (novel) – The Autobiography of Judas Iscariot

James W.T. Hart (English)

"A character-study." Published in London.

1884 (play) – Herod

Henry Iliowizi (Jewish-American, 1850-1911)

"A tragedy in five acts." Published in Minneapolis. By American rabbi and author, born in Belarus, in USA from 1880.

1884 (play) – Bar Kokhba <Hebrew>

Judah Loeb Landau (Jewish-German, 1866-1942)

Published in Hebrew at Lemberg (Lvov).

1884 (art) – Golgotha

Mihály Munkácsy (Hungarian, 1844-1900)

At the Déri Museum in Debrecen, Hungary.

1884 (play) – Les captifs

Maurice Walch (French)

"Drame judéo-romain en prose, en quatre actes et un tableau." Published in Paris, France.  The protagonist is the tannaitic Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha, on of the sages of the Mishnah, who lived at the beginning of the 2nd cent. CE.

1885

1885 (art) – The Triumph of Titus

Lawrence Alma-Tadema (Dutch-British, 1836-1912)

Private Collection.

1885 (play) – The Feast of Light

Herman Milton Bien (Jewish-American, 1831-1895)

"Three character poems and grand tableau finale, containing the story of the Book of Maccabeans. Pt. 1: Traitor and patriot. Pt. 2: Martyrs and tyrant. Pt. 3: The victory of freedom. Grand tableau finale: Chanukot.” Published in Vicksburg, Miss., was designed for representation by Sabbath Schools.

1885 (opera) – Hérode / Herod

William Chaumet (French, 1842-1903), mus.
Georges Boyer (French, b. 1850), libr.

“Poème dramatique.” Published and performed in Paris, at the Conservatoire, on 6 December 1885.

1885 (novel) - Torald der Hohenzollern Ahnherr unter Christi Kreuz

Oskar Gutsche (German, 1856-1907)

Torald, a young Ostrogoth, goes to Greece and Palestine where he enters in touch with the earliest Christian movement on the rise. Published in Stuttgart.

1885 (play) – The Destruction of Jerusalem

Judah Loeb Landau (Jewish-German, 1866-1942)

Published in Hebrew at Lemberg (Lvov).

1885 (novel) – Marius the Epicurean: His Sensations and Ideas

Walter Pater (English, 1839-1894)

Highly successful novel by English essayist and art and literary critic is a philosophical study of the social and moral phenomena of the times of Marcus Aurelius, in the third-quarter of the second century. Deals largely with the works of the Christians. Translated into German and Spanish.

1886

1886 (play) – Judas

Tor Hedberg (Swedish, 1862-1931)

“En passionhistoria.” Published in Stockholm, Sweden.

1886 (novel) – Skazanie o Flore, Agrippe i Menakheme, syne Iegudy / Tale of Florius, Agrippa, and Menahem ben Judah [Russian]

Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko (Russian, 1853-1921)

Not just a historical account of the Jewish War but a passionate denunciation of anti-Semitism, by one of the leaders of the liberal movement in Russia. Against Tolstoi’s call to “non violent resistance to evil,” the author claimed the right of the Jews to fight for their own rights.

1886 (poem) – Salomé / Salome [French]

Jules Laforgue (French, 1860-1887)

First published in Summer 1886 in the journal La Vogue (Summer 1886), and then in the volume Moralités legendaires (Paris: 1887). Translated into English and Italian. It was the French symbolist poet who added the scandal of the kiss, which so vividly influenced Oskar Wilde’s reworking of the biblical story.

1886 (novel) – Sérénus / Serenus

Jules Lamaître (French, 1853-1914)

"Histoire d’un martyr.” Describes how a skeptical patrician, through the circumstances of his death in Rome, 90 CE, came to be regarded as a Christian martyr. Published in Paris, by French critic, poet and dramatist. Translated into English.

1886 (novel) – By the King and the Queen

Anne Mercier (English)

Juvenile literature. “A story of the dawn of religion in Britain,” ca 50 CE. Published in London, by “Mrs. Jerome Mercier.”

1886 (art) – Christ with Martha and Maria

Henryk Siemiradzki (Polish, 1843-1902)

At the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1887

1887 (play) – Cristo alla festa di Purim  / Christ at the Feast of Purim

Giovanni Bovio (Italian, 1837-1903)

Jesus is portrayed as a radical political activist like the author of the play. Published in Naples, Italy; translated into Spanish.

1887 (novel) – Raphael Ben Isaac

John Bradshaw (English)

“A Tale of 20 A.D.” Published in London.

1887 (play) – Herod <Hebrew>

Judah Loeb Landau (Jewish-German, 1866-1942)

Published in Hebrew at Lemberg (Lvov). Translated into Yiddish in 1901.

1887 (oratorio) – The Crucifixion [English]

John Stainer (English, 1840-1901), mus.
William J. Sparrow-Simpson (English, 1859-1952), libr.

“A meditation on the sacred passion of the Holy Redeemer for two solo voices (tenor and bass) and chorus, and interspersed with hymns to be sung by the congregation.” Published and first performed in London at St. Marylebone Church, on 24 February 1887. Another oratorio from the acclaimed English composer and organist of the Anglican Church.

1887 (art) – Mariamne Leaving the Judgment Seat of Herod

John William Waterhouse (British, 1849-1917)

At the Forbes Magazine Collection in New York City, USA.

1888

1888 (novel) - Jeschua von Nazara

Paul Ador (German)

“ Roman, auf die Ergebnisse der historischen Forschung begründet.“ Published in München, Germany; translated into Dutch.

1888 (novel) – For the Temple

George Alfred Henty (English, 1832-1902)

“A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem,” by English journalist, traveler, war correspondent, and highly popular writer of children’s novels. The hero enters the service of Josephus, leads a band of guerrillas, fights for the Temple, is a slave in Alexandria, and returns to Galilee with the favor of Titus. Published in London, with illustrations by the Jewish-British artist Solomon J. Solomon (1860-1927). Translated into Dutch.

1888 (novel) – The Son of a Star

Benjamin Ward Richardson (English, 1828-1896)

“A Romance of the Second Century” focusing on Bar Kokhba. Published in London and New York. By the eminent British physician, anesthetist, physiologist and prolific writer on medical history.

1888 (play) – Herod and Mariamne

Amélie Rives (American, 1863-1945)

A verse drama, published in Philadelphia. Depicts a very ferocious and lurid Herod.

1889

1889 (novel) – To the Lions

Alfred John Church (English, 1829-1912)

First in a long and very popular series of historical novels of biblical subject, written for juvenile audience by retired Latin Professor at University College, London. It is a tale of the early Christians in the Province of Bithynia-Pontus, at the time of the persecutions under Trajan, 112 AD. The author gives a favorable depiction of the Younger Pliny as governor, also introducing Tacitus at one point in the story. The closing pages tell of a wonderful escape in the amphitheatre at Ephesus. Published in London and New York.

1889 (novel) – Emmanuel: The Story of the Messiah

William Forbes Cooley (American, b.1857)

A fictional retelling of the life of Jesus and his relations with his disciples, most prominent among whom is the doubter Thomas. Published in New York.

1889 (novel) – Nero

Ernst Eckstein (German, 1845-1900)

Romance on Nero emphasizes Christian influence. Published in Leipzig, Germany; translated into Swedish and English.

1889 (novel) – Balthasar

Anatole France (French, 1844-1924)

A fictional version of the Bible tale of the Magi. Published in Paris; translated in Swedish, English, German, Japanese, and Russian. By French author, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1921.

1889 (novel) – Rebekah

M. P. Jones (American)

“A tale of three cities at the time of Nero.” Focuses on the relationship between Nero and the Jews. Published in New York; reprinted in Cincinnati in 1897.

1889 (play) – Hanike / Hanakkah

Joseph Judah Lerner (Jewish-Russian, 1849-1907)

A Yiddish drama on the Maccabees. Published at Warsaw.

1889 (novel) – Fun Kleyn tsu der Kroyn

Nahum Meir Shaikewitz (Jewish-Lithuanian, 1849-1905)

A Yiddish novel on Herod the Great. Published at Vilnius, Lithuania.