Jesus: Gospels & Paintings

by Victory Multimedia

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004NHNV
• Item model number: MPM3001
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,228 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Are you ready for a dose of Old World spirituality on your digital desktop? Jesus: Gospel & Paintings brings the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to a CD-ROM format that incorporates text, narration, works of art, and music. Produced by Montparnasse Multimedia of Paris, this European CD-ROM features reproductions of Renaissance art masterworks, with musical accompaniment that ranges from Bach to Verdi.

The CD-ROM divides the stories of the Gospel into 12 scenes, which are easily navigated from the home page. Each scene contains four features: an animation, a commentary that paraphrases the story, an explanation of its historical context, and the biblical text of the scene. You can move quickly to related scenes or further background information. One especially interesting feature is the Synopsis, which allows you to see all four Gospels at once for any given scene.

Along with the 12 scenes, there is a Discovery button that allows you to click on the sayings of Christ or on symbols, such as a loaf of bread. This leads you to the relevant passages in the Gospels. A similar feature is called Actors, which allows you to search for a relationship between two separate terms, such as "John the Baptist" and "Galilee." The use of these features is not immediately obvious onscreen, but it is clearly explained on the disc jacket.

This scene-by-scene exploration of the Gospels will not interest everyone, and there are a handful of spelling errors that detract from its overall appearance. The European interpretation may appeal most to Catholics and those interested in the cultural history of Western Christianity. It might make a perfect Confirmation gift. --Matthew Kohut

Amazon.com Product Description

Discover the people Jesus met--Judas, Pilate, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene; the places he visited--Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee; and the symbols which marked his words and deeds--bread, wine, water, prayer.

Each scene gives you access to the greatest masterpieces of Western art, from the early catacomb paintings to the abstract works of the 20th century. Byzantine mosaics, medieval illuminations, and the frescoes of the great monasteries illustrate the greatest moments in the life of Christ.

Titian, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Gauguin, and others reveal to you their visions of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The paintings of these masters are discussed and analyzed from both a secular and a religious point of view. Comparison between these astounding works illustrate the evolution of the most important points in the representation of scenes throughout the centuries.

The complete text of the four gospels with comments and analysis is also contained here. A synopsis allows you to compare the works of the Evangelists, their similarities and their differences. The music of Vivaldi, Bach, Berlioz, Mozart, and others accompanies you on this magnificent voyage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, April 3, 2001

By 

A. Hogan (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus: Gospels & Paintings (CD-ROM)

This CD-ROM is easy to install,simple to operate,and lovely to look at and listen to. The producers{MONTPARNASSE MULTIMEDIA} have doen a very commendable job with this. Each of 12 scenes gives biblical narration,paintings,commentary,related scens{which all together are close to 100}textual comparisons,analysis, and discovery,which enables you to explaore the various parts or symbols of each scene{for Lazaraus,for examole,Martha and Mary can be reserached,with reaLTED scenes] For a CDROM neophyte{as I am},this is an excellent introduction. Not a bad way to intrduce children to Jesus in art and word, either. Very nicely done

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great gift for Christian art lovers, August 23, 2001

By 

George Zee (www.frzee.org, Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus: Gospels & Paintings (CD-ROM)

The editorial reviews have given us a good idea of this CD-Rom. So I'll just add a brief review. You can always expect a high standard of production from Montparnasse Multimedia though the design and navigation of this one is not as smooth, informative and interesting as the more recent "Musee d'Orsay" or "The Hermitage Museum". The analysis of the paintings and commentaries are too brief and not too enlightening.

The basic "12 scenes" are: The Annunciation, Birth of Jesus, Baptism of Jesus, Disciples are called, Wedding at Cana, Sermon on the Mount, Resurrection of Lazarus, Transfiguration, Entrance to Jerusalem, Jesus before Pilate, Death of Jesus and Road to Emmaus. For Christian art lovers, this CD will be a great tool for enjoyment and contemplation.