# Artist's depiction of Jesus - origin?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-depiction-of-jesus-origin/44426>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 7, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-depiction-of-jesus-origin/44426 "2000-12-07T03:27:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![AxeElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@AxeElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AxeElf)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-depiction-of-jesus-origin/44426/21 "2000-12-08T14:02:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \*  
> **The reason why Jesus is always portrayed that way is because that’s how He really looked. See, He didn’t really go up to Heaven–He’s been right here on earth ever since the Resurrection.**

For proof, see [http://www.jesus.com](http://www.jesus.com) where you can incidentally win a date with Jesus, or, if you’re so inclined, a shower even.

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-depiction-of-jesus-origin/44426/22 "2000-12-08T15:26:20Z")

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From **Ukelele Ike** ’s link:

> [@](#):
>
> Head of Christ is a masterpiece of modern Christian art. It is the result of years of dreams, preparation, experience, and hard work in the life of its artist, Warner Sallman. And through it all, says the artist himself, was the unfailing guidance of God.

and in the biography section:

> [@](#):
>
> One Saturday afternoon Sallman was called into the dean’s office, where the conversation went something like this:
> 
> “I understand that you’re an artist, Sallman, and I’m interested in knowing why you are attending this institute.”
> 
> “Well, I’m here because I wanted to increase my knowledge of the Scriptures. I want to be an illustrator of Biblical subjects.”
> 
> “Fine! There is a great need for Christian artists. Sometime I hope you give us your conception of Christ, and I hope it’s a manly one. Most of our pictures today are too effeminate.”
> 
> “You mean to say you think Jesus was a more rugged type? More of a man’s man?”
> 
> “Yes, according to the way I read my Bible. We know he walked great distances and slept out under the stars; he was rugged and strong. He preached in the desert so he must have been tanned. More than that, the Word says he set his face ‘like a flint’ to go down to Jerusalem, so he wasn’t soft or flabby. We need a picture of that kind of Christ, Sallman, and I hope you will do it some day.”

Which I, of course, find hilarious since that is one of the two prints held up by my art instructor acquaintance as a “Lady Clairol Christ.” (In fairness to Salliman, to get the Lady Clairol effect on his painting, you have to cover the nose as well as the beard. If he had given the figure a haircut, it wouldn’t be that bad–although I doubt that I would _ever_ call it a “masterpiece of modern Christian art.”)

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**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-depiction-of-jesus-origin/44426/23 "2000-12-08T15:36:12Z")

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Considering the forehead Jesus is sporting in Sallman’s painting, I can only conclude that he was from [Metaluna](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0047577). Which explains a lot, actually.

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