Pictures at an Exhibition - The New Testament Quiz

Answer: No

You would of course expect sheep on the "Adoration of the Shepherds", especially when you find out that the setting of this scene is a stable. But I'm afraid I have to disappoint you: the only animal in the stable you can recognise is a donkey. Hiding behind the donkey is probably an ox (it might also be a cow).
The presence of a donkey and an ox (or a cow) is slightly surprising in view of the text of the Bible. Luke 2:8-20 doesn't mention the presence of any animal, but states that Jesus Christ was laying in a manger. Although the gospel of Luke is not clear in this matter, the presence of a manger may indicate that Christ was born in a stable.
Caravaggio (1571-1610) was a prolific Italian painter, master of the chiaroscuro (enhancing the contrast between enlightened figures in the foreground and a dark background, in order to accentuate the importance of the characters).
Other "Adorations of the Shepherds" were made by Hugo van der Goes (1440-1482, birth date is not ascertained), Pinturicchio (born Bernardino di Betto, 1454-1513), Pieter Pourbus (1523-1584), Paolo Veronese (born Paolo Cagliari, 1528-1588) and Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806).

Answer: Salvador Dali

Albrecht Dürer (or Duerer) was a German painter and etcher. He lived from 1471 until 1528, long before the Surrealist art movement started. Dürer's thousands of woodcuts include a classical crucifixion.
François Duquesnoy (1597-1643) was a Belgian sculptor. Although his artist's name was François le Flamand or Francesco Fiammingho (both to be translated as "the Flemish Francis"), he is in fact considered as a Walloon. He was a member of a quite famous family of sculptors at that time. I presume that Duquesnoy made a "Crucifixion" (because at that time almost all artists did so), but I haven't found any reference to this sculpture.
Duccio di Buoninsegna (1260-1318) was one of the first Italian Renaissance painters. He made a classical painting of a crucifixion (which is part of the Maesta altarpiece in the Siena cathedral).
The only Spanish artist in this set of four is Salvador Dali (1904-1989). He is best known for his surrealist paintings "The Persistence of Memory" (with melted watches) and "The Burning Giraffe". Dali completed only a few paintings of religious nature: "The Temptation of St. Francis" (with some elephants on thin legs) and the "Corpus Hypercubus Crucifixion".
For those of you who want to read the story of the crucifixion (not in a surrealist way), I recommend Matthew 27. By the way, this text has inspired Johann Sebastian Bach for his "Matthaeus Passion", one of the most beloved classical oratorios.
Other famous artists who created a "Crucifixion" include Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), Michelangelo Buonarrotti (1475-1564), Albrecht Dürer (1480-1538), Leonard Limosin (1505-1577) and El Greco (born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 1541-1614). Limosin's "Crucifixion" is made in enamel on copper and was perhaps meant to decorate a Bible.

Answer: Last Supper

Da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the most significant Renaissance people. As the typical Renaissance man ought to do, he distinguished himself in various subjects. He was a gifted anatomist, made fame with his paintings, and worked also as an architect. The most notorious of his paintings are the "Mona Lisa" and this "Last Supper". Alas, the "Last Supper" is seriously deteriorated due to the use of an experimental technique.
Da Vinci painted the moment in which Jesus stated "the hand of him who is going to betray me, is with mine on the table" (Luke 22:22, New International Version). This comment evidently produces emotional scenes: some of His apostles frightened by this prospect, others throwing around wild accusations, yet others deploring the future.
Da Vinci's "Last Supper" is the most famous painting with this title. Other artists who have depicted the "Last Supper" include Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455), Dirk Bouts (1415-1475), Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), Pieter Pourbus (1523-1584), Paolo Veronese (1528-1588), and Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).

Answer: Gethsemane

You'll find this bit of information in Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42. Jesus went off three times to pray, while Peter and two other disciples were to keep watch. But they fell asleep "because their eyes were heavy" (Mark 14:40, New International Version). The place Jesus and his apostles went to is called Gethsemane, which can be translated as "Olive Press". In Dutch, older people still speak of the "Hofke van Olijven" (literally: Garden of Olives).
Ararat was the mountain range on which Noah's ark landed after the flood (Genesis 8:4). It is not mentioned in the New Testament.
Eden is the name of the garden where Adam and Eve dwelt before the original sin (see Genesis 2-3). It is not mentioned in the New Testament.
Golgotha is translated as "The Place of the Skull". Here Christ was crucified (see Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22 and John 19:17).
Duccio di Buoninsegna (1260-1318) was an early Renaissance painter. He lived and worked in and around Siena. It is in this Italian city that you can find Duccio's masterpiece, a polyptich entitled "Maesta". The painting "Agony in the Garden" is one of the panels of this masterpiece.
There are also some other Italian painters who have created a picture entitled "Agony in the Garden". Let's name, for example, Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), Sandro Botticelli (born Alessandro Filipepe, 1445-1510), Vittore Carpaccio (1460-1525) and Tintoretto (born Iacopo Comin or Iacopo Robusti, 1518-1594). Donatello (born Donato di Betto Bardi, 1386-1466) made a sculpture with the same title.

Answer: He was beheaded

It was John the Evangelist who (probably) died of old age, not John the Baptist. John the Evangelist is frequently portrayed in Byzantine art as an old man.
There are only a few saints who drowned. The best example is Saint Florian, depicted by Albrecht Altdorfer (1480-1538). Saint Florian was executed by being thrown into a lake, attached to a millstone.
Many early saints were crucified. Besides Christ, we can mention Peter (upside down, because he would not have it said that he died in the same way as Christ) and Andrew (crucified on a diagonal cross).
You'll find the death of John the Baptist in Matthew 14:1-8 and in Mark 6:14-25. The story tells us that King Herod's stepdaughter Salome danced for him at Herod's birthday party. Being utterly pleased by this dance, Herod promised Salome to grant her whatever she wanted - "up to half my kingdom" (Mark 6:23, New International Version). Salome was then instructed by her mother Herodias to ask for the Baptist's head on a platter. So John the Baptist was beheaded in prison, and his head was brought in on a platter.
Dürer (1471-1528) was one of the few artists to depicted the beheading of St. John the Baptist. But many others have painted John's head on a (silver) platter: for example Benozzo Gozzoli (1420-1497), Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553), Caravaggio (1571-1610), Carel Fabritius (1622-1654), and Giovanni Batista Tiepolo (1696-1770).

Answer: Mary and Elisabeth

The "Visitation", a popular scene in Renaissance and Baroque art, is based upon Luke 1:39-45. It tells us of the visit a pregnant woman makes to another pregnant woman.
But who are these women depicted in "The Visitation"?
With "Gabrielle and Catherine" I refer to the sisters d'Estrée. Gabrielle was mistress to King Henry IV of France, and has been portrayed with one of her sisters in bath playing around.
"Mary and Catherine" have been inspired by the women of the Medici family married into the French royal family. Catherine de Medici married King Henry II of France in 1553, and Mary was wed to King Henry IV of France in 1600.
"Mary and Martha" is a pair we do meet in the New Testament. They were the sisters of Lazarus, the man raised from death in John 11:38-44.
Luke 1:39-45 tells us the story of the Virgin Mary visiting her cousin Elisabeth. Elisabeth greeted her cousin with the words "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Luke 1:42, King James Version). This verse and Luke 1:28 ("Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.") form the base of the well-known prayer "Hail Mary".
El Greco (1541-1614) was born on Crete under the name Domenikos Theotokopoulos. Crete was at that time part of the Venetian Republic, so it was quite natural that Domenikos went to Venice, where he learned the art of painting. Soon he left for Spain, where he obtained his artist's name "El Greco" - for many people that are not of Greek origin have difficulty pronouncing El Greco's full name. He stayed in Toledo, Spain from 1577 until his death.
Other artists who created a "Visitation" include Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337), Fra Angelico (1400-1455, born Guidolino di Pietro), Rogier van der Weyden (1400-1464), Rafael Sanzio (1483-1520), Titian (born Tiziano Vecellio, 1487-1576), Pontormo (born Iacopo Carrucci, 1494-1556), Tintoretto (1518-1594, born Iacopo Comin or Iacopo Robusti), and Franz Anton Maulbertsch (1724-1796).

Answer: Domenico Ghirlandaio

When the Virgin Mary got pregnant by intervention of the Holy Spirit (yes indeed - this does seem to happen, although very rarely), God sent the archangel Gabriel to inform her and give her some advice.
This scene is elaborated in Luke 1:26-38. Verse 28 in the King James Version sounds rather familiar: "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." This verse and verse 42 form the core of the well-known prayer "Hail Mary".
The annunciation is also the theme of many paintings and a few other artworks. All four of the artists I've mentioned have completed an "Annunciation", as well as numerous others.
Gentile da Fabriano (1370-1427) was an Italian painter. Other paintings of his include the "Adoration of the Magi" (overpopulated in my humble estimation) and the fine "Polyptich of Valle Romita".
Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337) was one of the first Italian Renaissance painters. His masterpiece is the decoration of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. Giotto also made a mosaic for the old St. Peter in Rome, but Giotto's original has been destroyed. The "Navicella" mosaic made in the seventeenth century that now decorates St. Peter's was probably inspired by Giotto's original.
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) was a Flemish, prolific Baroque painter. He made over two thousand paintings, as well as drawings and compositions for tapestries. As far as we know, he never made any mosaics.
Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494) was born under the name Bigordi. In 1490, he completed the "Annunciation" mosaic you can find above one of the seven doors of the Duomo in Florence, Italy. His masterpiece is also in Florence, but in another church: the Tornabuoni Chapel in the Santa Maria Novella (near the railway station).
By the way, did you ever notice that almost all "Annunciations" show the archangel Gabriel to the left? The only "adverse" Annunciations I've found in a set of over two hundred are those made by Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530), Federico Barrocci (1526-1612), Jacques de Bellange (1575-1616), Orazio Gentileschi (1563-1639), Paulus Bor (1600-1669) and Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674).

Answer: Cana

You'll find the places Sardis, Smyrna and Pergamum only in the Book of Revelation, chapters 1-3. These were three of the seven churches in the Roman Province of Asia Minor (roughly corresponding to present-day Turkey) to which Jesus Christ sent messages through John. Incidentally, Smyrna is nowadays known as Izmir. None of these cities were the site of a miracle mentioned in the New Testament.
John 2:1-11 mentions the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. John adds (John 2:11) that this was the very first miracle Jesus performed.
Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337) was an early Renaissance painter. One of the pictures in his masterpiece, the Scrovegni Chapel, shows the Star of Bethlehem as a comet - maybe the Comet of Halley.
The Scrovegni Chapel decorated by Giotto is a highly valuated art site. The official website http://www.cappelladegliscrovegni.it/info.htm states that you have to reserve your place in advance, at least three days before your visit (one day before if you pay with a credit card), and that you have to take out your ticket at least one hour before entering the Chapel. Furthermore you'll have to wait 15 minutes in an acclimatizing room, and the visit itself is limited to another 15 minutes. (Incidentally: this website is quite complete, but only available in Italian).
The "Wedding at Cana" was also depicted by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319), Cecchino Salviati (born Francesco de Rossi, 1510-1563) and Mattia Preti (1613-1699), to name a few.

Answer: De' Medici

Benozzo di Lese, better known as Gozzoli, was born in Florence in 1420 and died in Pistoia (some 20 km or 12 miles north-east of Florence) in 1497. He worked all over Tuscany, and also in Rome.
In his paintings based upon the story of the arrival of the magi (Matthew 2:1-12), he depicts three kings parading with their family, guests and numerous servants. The young king is identified as Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492). This was the most illustrious member of the de' Medici family, the family that ruled Florence from 1382 until 1494.
Girolamo Savonarola (born 1452) was a Dominican monk who established a theocracy in Florence in 1494. This dictatorial rule continued until Savonarola's execution in 1498.
Sforza was the family name of those who ruled Milan in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century.
Borgia is the name of a family descended from Spain. This family controlled Rome and the Papal States during the fifteenth century. Alfonso (1378-1458) and his nephew Rodrigo (1430-1503) became Pope, under the name Callixtus III (1455-1458) and Alexander VI (1492-1503) respectively.
Gozzoli was evidently only one of the numerous artists portraying the "Adoration of the Magi", but he was quite original in depicting the magi in a procession, followed by the rest of their household, guests and servants.

Answer: Thomas

This episode played out after Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead. At that time, Judas (who had betrayed Him) had already committed suicide: repenting his betrayal of Christ, Judas threw away the ransom and hanged himself.
Mark was not an apostle, according to the gospels (see Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19 and Luke 6:14-16). The apostles were Peter and his brother Andrew, John and his brother James (sons of Zebedee), Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew the tax collector and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon, Judas Iscariot and finally someone called Judas son of James (in the gospel according to Luke) or Thaddeus (in the other gospels). After Judas Iscariot committed suicide, Matthias replaced him. Paul was not mentioned as one of the twelve apostles, but is generally considered as an apostle because of his vocation by Christ Himself.
Peter was the principal apostle. He is also considered the first Pope. During Christ's process, Peter denied knowing Him three times - as Christ predicted.
When Christ first appeared to the apostles after His death and resurrection, Thomas was not with them. Thomas did not believe what the other disciples told him: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25, New International Version). A week later, Christ reappeared and Thomas could touch Christ's wounds. Then he believed Christ had truly risen.
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591-1666), nicknamed il Guercino, chose to depict this scene.
Other artists having portrayed "Doubting Thomas" include Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319), Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and Hendrik ter Brugghen (1588-1629).

Answer: Andrea Mantegna

Surely you didn't imagine Umberto Eco rendering an iconic painting. Eco (born 1932) is a professor of semiotics and has made fame with some novels: "Il nome della rosa" ("The name of the Rose") and "Il pendolo di Foucault" ("The Pendulum of Foucault") were his first two. "The Name of the Rose" contains a very elaborate description of a "Last Judgment", but it is only a written description of a sculpture - not any work of plastic art.
Domenico Fontana (1543-1607) was an Italian architect who collaborated to the construction and decoration of the St. Peter's in Rome. He also sculpted a Moses Fountain. To the best of my knowledge, he has not left any paintings.
Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) was an Italian sculptor, who created the magnificent "Gates of Paradise": a set of ten bas-reliefs in gilded bronze, destined to decorate one of the doors of the Baptistery in Florence, Italy. (The original bas-reliefs have been replaced by replicas and can now be visited in the museum next to the Duomo).
The only painter among these four notorious Italians was Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506). His "Lamentation" depicts the dead Christ ready for burial. See Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42 for the details of Christ's burial.
Other "Lamentations" were painted by Petrus Christus (1420-1472), Corregio (born Antonio Allegri, 1489-1534), Maarten van Heemskerck (1498-1574), Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), and Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641). I've only chosen some artists, for there are many "Lamentations".

Answer: No

Did you say yes? Well, a positive answer would signify a limit to the interesting information I have prepared here.
First of all, let's define the exact meaning of the word Pieta. It is an artistic representation (in painting or in sculpture) of the body of the dead Christ supported by one or more mourning characters (people or angels).
Michelangelo sculpted several Pietas. His first Pieta (completed in 1499) decorates St. Peter's in Rome. You'll find two of his Pietas in Florence: a nameless Pieta in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the "Palestrina Pieta" in the Accademia. Finally Michelangelo started the Rondanini Pieta in 1552. When Michelangelo died in 1564, the Pieta was not yet finished.
Michelangelo Buonarrotti (1475-1564) was a prominent Renaissance artist. He thought his sculptures (for instance the "David" and the "Pieta") were his best works, but he is also praised for his paintings (most notably the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel).
The list of artists having completed a "Pieta" is almost endless. I'll name just some sculptors: the Italians Andrea Sansovino (born Andrea Contucci, 1460-1529) and Baccio Bandinelli (1488-1560, real name Bartolomeo Brandini), the French Jean Goujon (1510-1566) and Nicolas Coustou (1658-1733), the Spanish architect Diego de Siloé (1495-1563), and the German sculptor Ignaz Gunther (1725-1775).

Answer: Jordan

The Baptism of Christ is described in Matthew 3:12-14, Mark 1:4-9 and Luke 3:21-22. John the Baptist was habitually baptising many repentant people in the Jordan when Jesus arrived. John baptised Jesus, and afterwards a voice from heaven called out "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17, King James Version).
At the time the gospels were written down, people living in Israel and neighbouring countries did not know the river Amazon.
The Tiber is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible either.
The Nile was a very important river. However, as it flows through Egypt, no Jew of the time would venture going to see the Nile when there was no urge to.
Andrea Pisano (1290-1348) was an Italian architect and sculptor. You'll find many of his bas-reliefs in Florence, Italy, either on the south door of the Baptistery or in the Museo Opera del Duomo. One of Pisano's masterpieces was the Campanile (bell tower) in Florence.
Some of the other artists who painted the "Baptism of Christ" are the German Michael Pacher (1435-1498), the Spanish painter El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 1541-1614) and the Italians Giovanni Cima (1459-1517) and Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494, born as Domenico Bigordi).

Answer: Assumption of the Virgin

Surely you didn't pick the "Sermon on the Mount". I can't imagine any South American place name derived from this event.
Easter refers to Easter Island (aka Rapa Nui), discovered by the Dutch sailor Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday, 1722. Since 1888, Easter Island belongs to Chile. It is now considered as a special territory, and the Chilean government is contemplating a special charter. As you might have guessed, Easter Island is *not* the capital of Chile: that is Santiago, on the mainland.
Angel Fall is the highest cascade all over the world. This Venezuelan waterfall reaches a height of 979 meters (3,212 feet). Surely a waterfall is not a capital city: the Venezuelan capital is Caracas.
Asuncion, the capital city of Paraguay, was named after the Assumption of the Virgin. The first fortification in Asuncion was built on August 15, 1537, the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.
The Bible does not contain an explicit description of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, but many theologians believe that Revelation 12 predicts this event.
Rosso Fiorentino (1494-1540) was born Giovanni Battista de Rossi (or di Jacopo, sources differ). This Italian painter was one of the first Mannerists.
One of the most impressive "Assumptions of the Virgin" was painted by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Other artists who depicted this event include the Spanish Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1618-1682) and Juan de Valdes Leal (1622-1690), the Belgian artist Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) and the Italians Perugino (Pietro Vanucci, 1448-1523), Pinturicchio (1454-1513, born Bernardino di Betto), Federico Zuccari (1540-1609), Domenicchino (aka Domenico Zampieri, 1581-1641) and Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647).

Answer: Adoration of the Magi

All four paintings I've mentioned were made by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) and can be admired in Antwerp: "The Adoration of the Magi" in the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, the others in the Antwerp Cathedral (dedicated to Our Lady).
"The Raising of the Cross" is a fine example of dynamic composition. There are many people about, but all of them are of Caucasian looks. It shows how a few strong men erect the cross Christ was nailed upon.
No Africans are depicted in "The Resurrection of Christ". Here also, all people are of the Caucasian race. In this painting, several people are startled by the apparition of a luminescent Christ, who was supposed to be dead.
"The Assumption of the Virgin" shows us the Virgin Mary, propelled by a large number of cherubs, while some saints (with a Caucasian appearance) watch this memorable event. Some angels fly around to welcome Mary.
Of the four paintings I've mentioned in this question, only "The Adoration of the Magi" shows us people of non-European looks. It depicts three magi: Caspar (middle-aged, with a vaguely Asian appearance), Melchior (a typical old Caucasian) and Balthasar (a young African). In this composition, Rubens joins a medieval tradition to fill in what the Bible leaves out. Indeed, Matthew 2:1-12 does not mention the number of magi, let alone their names or origins. Medieval and Renaissance artists have been inspired by the fact that Matthew mentions three different gifts (gold, myrrh and frankincense) to deduce that three magi came to adore the Christ child. Moreover, the medieval tradition depicts the magi as symbols of the three ages of men and of the (at that moment) known continents.
Let's mention here (at random) only three of the about fifty other artists who painted or sculpted the "Adoration of the Magi": the Belgian Jan Gossaert (artist's name Mabuse, born about 1478 and died 1532), the Italian Bassano (Iacopo da Ponte, 1515-1592) and the German Stephan Lochner (1410-1451).

Answer: Saul

The blinding light does *not* refer to Bartimaeus. Mark 10:46-52 relates the story of this blind beggar outside the city of Jericho, who was healed by his faith in Jesus.
Lazarus was the subject of another miracle performed by Jesus. John 11:1-44 tells us how Jesus visited Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. Jesus went to Lazarus' tomb and called him. Miraculously Lazarus appeared, although he had already died four days before.
Nicodemus is mentioned in John 3:1-21. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and wanted to understand the divine miracles performed by Jesus. But Jesus replied that Nicodemus should be "born again", a phrase Nicodemus did not understand. Jesus implied with this phrase a spiritual rebirth, while Nicodemus thought on a purely earthly level: "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" (John 3:4, New International Version).
The painting by Tintoretto is based upon Acts 9:1-19: the conversion of Saul. When Saul headed for Damascus in order to persecute the early Christians, a beam of light blinded him and he fell to the ground. (Tintoretto painted Saul falling of a horse because the rich people liked to travel that way. However, the Bible doesn't mention whether Saul rode or walked to Damascus).
Tintoretto (1518-1594, born Iacopo Comin or Iacopo Robusti) was a Venetian painter. His artist's name is a bit derogative ("little painter", with the implication of bungling), but in fact he is one of the greatest Venetian artists. He left us over one hundred and fifty splendid paintings.
There are not many other artists who picked "The Conversion of Saul" as a subject for their paintings. I'll name here the Belgian master Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1525-1569) and the Italian painter Luca Signorelli (1445-1523).

Answer: Supper at Emmaus

"The Parable of the Sower" deals with someone sowing grain. This has to come way before the bread is baked... Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1525-1569) made a painting with this title.
"Jesus Multiplies the Bread" is a miracle described in Matthew 14:13-21. Jesus saw a large number of hungry people (about five thousand men, not counting women and children). His disciples brought Him five loafs of bread and two fish, with which He fed the multitude.The Italian painter Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) depicted this scene.
"The Last Supper" is of course a very popular subject in religious art. I haven't found any "Last Supper" by Titian. Famous instances by other artists include the "Last Supper" by da Vinci (1452-1519), which shows us the reaction of the apostles when Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, and a "Last Supper" by Dirk Bouts (1410-1475) showing us Jesus blessing the wine (not the bread).
The story of the two disciples walking a while with Jesus and starting supper with Him without recognising Him, until He blessed the bread, is the story of the Emmaus pilgrims. Luke 24:13-35 tells us of two disciples who went from Jerusalem to Emmaus. One of these disciples was Cleopas, the other is not named in the gospel. Titan's painting shows us the moment when Cleopas and his friend finally recognised the resurrected Jesus.
Incidentally, one of the best known art frauds was also a painting of "The Emmaus Pilgrims". This painting was ascribed to Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) but was in fact a forgery by Han Van Meegeren (1889-1947). Rumour has it that there are even forgeries of Van Meegeren's forgeries.

Answer: Herod

I'm pretty convinced that you are smart enough not to pick Nicolas Sarkozy (born 1955, elected French President in 2007) out of these four options.
Xerxes (519 BC - 465 BC) was a Persian King mentioned in the Old Testament. By the time Jesus was born, Persian Kings did not rule Israel any more.
The "Flight into Egypt" was to prevent Herod from slaughtering Jesus. Herod (Antipas) ordered all male children up to two years of age to be killed. This episode is known as "The Massacre of the Innocent" (and was subject of a painting ascribed to Rubens, 1577-1640). Herod Antipas was born about 20BC and ascended to the throne of Israel around 4BC. At that time, Israel was in name an independent kingdom, but was in fact controlled by the Roman Empire. This explains how the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus had the power to order the census which caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem during Mary's pregnancy.
Cosme Tura (1430-1495) was an Italian painter. The "Roverella Polyptich" is his masterpiece, in which he has depicted numerous scenes from the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Other artists who depicted "The Flight into Egypt" include (among many others) the French sculptor Gislebertus (of whom we know only that he decorated the Cathedral at Autun around 1130-1135), the Italian painter Annibale Carraci (1560-1609) and the German Adam Elsheimer (1578-1610).

Answer: Jesus Christ

Theologians have long debated over the question of whether this quote calls for civil obedience or for civil disobedience. But this quote might be only a call for poverty (don't keep coins, for they are engraved with the effigy of other people) or a support for the theory that the religious authorities and the civil authorities must not interfere with each other.
Judas was the treasurer of the apostles (John 13:29), but never preached or gave any guidelines as this one.
Thomas is known for asking for evidence of Christ's resurrection (John 20:24-29). Before Jesus' death, Thomas also asked Him: "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:4-6, New International Version). These are the only instances in which Thomas played an active role.
Peter was the most important apostle and is considered the first Pope. As such, he has given us many words of wisdom (see for example his two letters).
However, the painting refers to Jesus' words.
Valentin de Boulogne (1590-1632) was a French painter who has left us at least about a dozen paintings on religious subjects.
This is quite an unusual subject for religious art (perhaps because of the various interpretations given to this quote). Masaccio (Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone Guidi Cassai, 1401-1428) has depicted a similar event, but added that the tribute Peter paid to the Roman tax collector had been found in a fish caught by Peter. (Next time you eat fish, watch out not only for the fish-bones, but also for any tax coins...)

Answer: Hieronymus Bosch

All the people mentioned in this question were Dutch painters.
Vermeer (1632-1675) left us about three dozens of paintings. Most of these paintings show us interiors with only one, two or three people present. None of his paintings had a religious subject.
Van Gogh (1853-1890) is now famous for his sets of paintings "Sunflowers" and "Irises". Some of these paintings have been auctioned at record prizes. A few of his early paintings had religious subjects. However, none of them refers to the "Last Judgment".
Hals (1580-1666) is best known for his portraits. His oeuvre contains about two hundred individual portraits and at least fifty genre pieces (in which he portrayed a certain group of people).
Bosch (born Van Aken, 1450-1516) is the painter we're looking for. One of his masterpieces is "The Garden of Earthly Delight", in which numerous nude people satisfy their sinful lusts every way they can. Needless to say, most of his paintings could be classified as "X-rated".
"The Last Judgment" has of course inspired many artists. I'll name just the most famous of them: Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337), Michelangelo Buonarrotti (1475-1564) and Tintoretto (Iacopo Comin or Iacopo Robusti, 1518-1594) for the Italians, Jan Van Eyck (1390-1441) and Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) for the Belgians, and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) for the Germans.

Sources for this quiz include: "World History" by Carl Grimberg, "7000 Years of World History" edited by Christoph Columbus Verlag AG, "Verschueren Groot Encyclopedisch Woordenboek", "Le Petit Larousse", the Encarta Encyclopedia on CD-ROM, the Catholic Encyclopedia (www.newadvent.org/cathen ), the Web Gallery of Art (www.wga.hu ), the Webmuseum (www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth ), Artnet (www.artnet.com), the Bible Gateway (www.BibleGateway.com ) - where I used the New International Version for most biblical quotes - and Wikipedia (http:/en.wikipedia.org ).