Harry anderson artist jesus

Photo by R. Scott Lloyd.

A devout Seventh-day Adventist artist, he is best known for Christian-themed illustrations he painted for the Adventist church and the Church of Jesus Christ.

He was a Seventh Day Adventist, but his paintings of Bible subjects are among the most familiar and pervasive in Latter-day Saint culture. What makes this exhibition unusual is that it features 25 paint studies Mr. Anderson spent much of his early career as an illustrator. Their purpose was concept approval before the creation of the final paintings.

In addition to the paint studies, the exhibition features three completed works by the artist, allowing visitors in each instance to compare the study with the finished product. The studies were donated by Kristin Geddis and her family.

Anderson, already known for his images of the Savior, was commissioned to paint Christ Ordaining the Twelve Apostles.

She is a daughter of Mr. Anderson, who died November 19, The Second Coming, by Harry Anderson. In , he and his wife, Ruth, accepted the invitation of President Spencer W. Kimball to visit Salt Lake City to see how the Church was displaying his paintings. And I was just blown away by these preparatory paint studies that were just amazing—all of them works we know so well—and gorgeous and beautiful and intimate.

It transforms them. He was a guy that liked challenges.