Angels on high — Art of the ages depicts Jesus Christ in a stunning BYU exhibition

Instead of a pontificating presentation of religious art, "Beholding Salvation: Images of Christ" is a carefully crafted, thoughtfully organized and visually stunning exhibition that chronicles the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Consisting of 170 works — paintings, prints, icons, illuminated manuscripts and sculpture from diverse times and creeds — the exhibit was conceived more than five years ago in the mind of Dawn Pheysey, Museum of Art curator of Religious Works and Works on Paper at Brigham Young University.

However, the exhibit came to fruition only after Richard Holzaphel and Kent Brown, two professors of religious studies at BYU, contacted her about a book they wanted to write. "They wanted to know if I would like to do the art-historical part and select images," said Pheysey. She agreed, and much of the art she selected for the book is in the show.

"Over the centuries," Pheysey said, "Christian artists have developed certain conventions that in and of themselves convey significant concepts to the minds of prepared viewers."

According to Pheysey, these formulas encouraged reflection on the life of Christ and solidified religious doctrines.

Many of the works in the exhibition, an exhibit card states, were produced by European artists working in former times under the auspices of the Catholic Church, a powerful patron of the arts for centuries. Others were created to advance the teachings of Protestant Reformers. Still others are the result of modern-day revelation.

Pheysey and the museum staff have balanced the work of these three periods remarkably well.

Most of the pieces in the show come from the MOA's permanent collection; the rest are on loan.

"Our collection is very diverse," Pheysey said. Several of the museum's recent acquisitions are in the show and will be familiar: Carl Bloch's (1834-90) "Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda"; John Rogers Herbert's (1810-90) "The Savior Subject to His Parents in Nazareth"; Circle of Rembrandt (ca. 1650), "Head of Christ" and Edward J. Poynter's (1836-1919) "The Prodigal's Return."

"Beholding Salvation," which is organized chronologically, begins with the Annunciation and ends with Christ's victory through the Resurrection.

Several steps into the exhibition, you will encounter the 84- by 204-inch painting "The Nativity," by Brian Kershisnik (b. 1962). This enormous canvas, teeming with 160 ogling angels, will undoubtedly be one of the most talked-about works in the show.