Bible Flying (#1805)

Howard Finster, Bible Flying (#1805), 1980, enamel on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.16
Howard Finster, Bible Flying (#1805), 1980, enamel on wood, 24 x 50 7⁄8 in. (61.0 x 129.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.16

Artwork Details

Title
Bible Flying (#1805)
Artist
Date
1980
Location
Dimensions
24 x 50 7⁄8 in. (61.0 x 129.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
enamel on wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Architecture — vehicle — airplane
  • Religion — Old Testament
  • Landscape — imaginary
Object Number
1997.124.16
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.16

Artwork Description

Howard Finster was fascinated by modern technology and filled his two-acre Paradise Garden with portraits of inventors and examples of their creations. An inscription on this painting reveals that it was inspired by an airplane trip to Miami. Finster used quotes from the Bible to compare this journey to visions of divine flight, such as "who are these that fly as a cloud" and "Oh that I had wings like a dove for then would I fly away." He painted an eerie, hilly landscape depicting the fantasy world that he "saw" from the window of the airplane.

Works by this artist (16 items)

View all artworks
Howard Finster, "God is Love. Seek his will and find his peace he saves from sin.", after 1970, oil on wood paneling, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1998.84.15
“God is Love. Seek his will and find his peace he saves…
Artist
Dateafter 1970
oil on wood paneling
On view
Howard Finster, THER SHALL BE EARTH qUAKES, 1976, enamel on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1988.74.8
THER SHALL BE EARTH qUAKES
Artist
Date1976
enamel on fiberboard
On view
Howard Finster, THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE ACROSS JORDAN, 1976, enamel on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1988.74.6
THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE ACROSS JORDAN
Artist
Date1976
enamel on fiberboard
On view
Howard Finster, AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD, 1976, enamel on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1988.74.7
AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD
Artist
Date1976
enamel on fiberboard
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Howard Finster, THER SHALL BE EARTH qUAKES, 1976, enamel on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1988.74.8
THER SHALL BE EARTH qUAKES
Artist
Date1976
enamel on fiberboard
On view
Howard Finster, THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE ACROSS JORDAN, 1976, enamel on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1988.74.6
THE LORD WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE ACROSS JORDAN
Artist
Date1976
enamel on fiberboard
On view
Rex Clawson, Mr. and Mrs. America, 1969, enamel on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.11
Mr. and Mrs. America
Artist
Date1969
enamel on wood
On view
Howard Finster, Man of Vision Found in Hosea 12-10, April 1978, enamel on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.111
Man of Vision Found in Hosea 12 – 10
Artist
DateApril 1978
enamel on plywood
Not on view