Artwork of the Week: May 13
Danish-American artist C.C.A. Christenson is known for capturing the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his art. In this painting, Christensen depicts a tragic event from October 9, 1848. At about three o'clock in the morning, an arsonist set the Nauvoo Temple on fire as a message to the Saints that they did not belong in Illinois. As described in a local newspaper, “The fire presented a most sublime spectacle. It commenced in the copula, and as the flames shot up in the sky, they threw a lurid glare into the surrounding darkness. Great volumes of smoke and flame burst from the windows, and the crash of falling timbers was distinctly heard on the opposite side of the river.” In Burning of the Temple, Christensen visualizes the incident, with red flames consuming the temple against the dark sky. Although he was not physically present that night, Christensen’s painting conveys the intense emotion and terror associated with watching a sacred place burn.
