From the 5th of July to the 3rd of August, 2009, the exhibition „144 Biblical Miniatures“ were exhibited at the Centre of Tolerance of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum. The embassy of Israel to Lithuania and Latvia had presented the exhibition.

Twenty-eight artists, members of the Israel Miniature Art Society (IMAS) founded in 1996, created the 144 miniatures using acrylic, paint, ink, oil paints and mixed media, inspired by scenes from the Old Testament. In some of the works biblical tales are portrayed abstractly, in others scenes are rendered super-realistically, while in still others there are purely symbolic images.

We can say confidently that Bible is an important work of wisdom which has influenced humanity over the centuries. It is the “Book of books” to believers- to Christians, Jews and Muslims – helping them to experience religious truths, generate philosophical  thoughts, and is an invaluable source of information to scholars and historians. In European art, biblical scenes have inspired many renowned artists, composers and poets for many centuries.

The exhibition “144 Biblical Miniatures” has traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. It was shown in the Baltic States for the first time at the Vilna Gaon Jewish State museum’s  Centre of Tolerance.

Photographer P. Račiūnas