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Vision from Book of Revelation
1966
Rev. McKendree Robbins Long, Sr.
Born: Statesville, North Carolina 1888
Died: Statesville, North Carolina 1976
oil on canvas
44 1/8 x 52 in. (112.1 x 132.1 cm.)
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Museum purchase
1989.19
Smithsonian American Art Museum
1st Floor, West Wing
"They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them." Revelation 20:7-9
Reverend McKendree Robbins Long created many paintings based on the book of Revelation, combining imagery from different chapters to tell the story as he saw it. This piece shows Long's vision of Armageddon, with the city of Jerusalem under threat from masses of soldiers, aircraft, and missiles. Satan watches from the clouds, while seven trumpets pour "hail and fire, mixed with blood" onto the earth (8:7). Long painted the crowds of people poised and waiting for action, capturing the suspenseful moment before the inevitable chaos of the end of the world.
This artwork is currently on view on the first floor of the Museum in the Folk Art galleries.
For more information about this work visit the Luce Foundation Center.
Keywords
Cityscape - imaginary
Landscape - bird's eye view
Religion - angel
Religion - New Testament - Christ
Religion - New Testament - Last Judgment
Religion - Satan
State of being - evil - war
painting
folk art
paint - oil
fabric - canvas
About Rev. McKendree Robbins Long, Sr.
Born: Statesville, North Carolina 1888 Died: Statesville, North Carolina 1976
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