Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1966 A Visual Interpretation of Events and Personalities from the Book of Mormon Larry Berg Prestwich Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Art and Design Commons, Mormon Studies Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Prestwich, Larry Berg, "A Visual Interpretation of Events and Personalities from the Book of Mormon" (1966). Theses and Dissertations. 5052. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5052 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. A VISUAL interpretation OF EVENTS AND personalities ROMFFROM THE BOOK OF MORMON A thesis presented to the department of art 1 brighbrighamam young university I in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of arts by larry berg prestwich august 1966 i pe5sipeasi moroni wanderedwand ered lorforlonyon the safsafete I1 of illiiiliirisriahiss life I1 would like to express sincere thanks to the depart- ment of art for permitting me to develop the subject of this thesis I1 anon especially grateful to drdro richard leL gunn cammicommicommitteeateettee chairman for his assistance in the preparation of this projectprojectsprojecto I1 would like to acknowledge my appreciation to drdro jejo roman andrus for his assistance in providing me with ideas and resource material finally I1 wish to express heartfelt thanks to my wife anne for her patience and supportsupportssupportysupporty and to erma barton for her assistance in typing this thesis iv0 TABLE OF CONTENTS page frontpiece S s 0 6 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 liiiiilif acknowledgments 0 0 a 0 0 0 a 0 iv LIST OPOFillustrations a 0 0 0 & 0 viivil LIST OF PIATESPLATES 0 6 0 0 & 4 0 v1vaviii chapter 1 0 a 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 I introductionI1 statement of the problem how the problem arose justification of the problem creative directions of the problem review of book of momonmormon illustrations chaohapt 0 organization materillif definitionw110of art terms defdefinitionin ii on 0off otheotherr tenastennatermsterma II11 NEPHI 17 nephinephip&ndtered the words ofofmisivhlahiethertheyhiihik theThe aliallangrygryguy BBrrothersotherabrothers6the ra the sword oflabanof lab an lilliiIII111 ENOSEMOS AND OMNI 27 the prayer of eloseloaenosenoa omni the warriorsWarr loraiora IV MORMON 6 41 0 a 0 0 a 0 6 a 0 0 0 0 37 mormon A sober child ment the abridabaidabridgementf mormon Aandendillekronimoroni VsV thetheithee BROTHER OPOFJARED 48 A larlargee and mighty man the finger of the lord v page V VII1 MORONMORONII1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 moroni wandered for the safety of hihishibs life SUMMARY AND vilVII 9 conclusions recommendations 0 60 summary conclusions recommendations APPENDIX 0 9 0 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 a a 0 0 0 b 0 0 68 bibliography 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 79 vi LIST OF illustrations figure page 101 nephi pondered the words of his father 26 2 the angry brothebrothersre 0 0 0 10 0 0 40 0 0 26 303 the sword of laban 0 26 4 the prayer of enos 0 0 36 5 omni 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0a 36 6 the warriors 0 1 0a 0 0 0 0a 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 70 mormontmormonmormons A sober child 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Is 0a 47 8 the abridgement 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 90910 mormon and moroni 0 47 10s10loaioa A large and mighty man e 54 ll1111 the finger of the lord 0 0 0 0 0 0 54 121240 moroni wandered for the safsafetyety of his liflifee 0 59 viviivilai0i LIST OF natesRATESPLATES plate page 116 0 is 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 a 0 0 6 0 6 a 0 0 0 40 0 68 illustration lo10 sketches for nephis ponderingsPonde rings illustration 2 sketches for the angry brothers llelieileII11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 0 a 6 a 6 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 69 illustration 1 sketches for the sword of laban illustration 202 sketches for omni liilililiIII111 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 70 illustration 1 sketches for the prayepreyeprayerpreyerr of enos illustration 2 sketches for the warriors IV sketches for mormonmormons A sober child 0 0 71 V sketches for the abridgement 0 0 0 0 G 0 72 vioVI sketches for mormon and moroni 0 0 73 0 VII sketches for mormon and moroni 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 74 VIII sketches for momonmormon and moronimoronf 75 0 ixoIXcixo sketches for mormon and moroni a 0 a 0 0 0 76 xexo sketches for the finger of the lord 0 0 77 XI sketches for moronimoronis s wanderings 0 0 0 78 vviiiiai1 i CHAPTER I1 introduction statement of the problemtheProblem The purpose of this thesichesithesiss was to create two paintings and ten drawings pertaining to events and personalities from the book of mormon the art works were done with the special intent of expressing the artistsartiste personal and animated feelings about several men whose writings comprise the book and certain events per- taining to their particular circumstances the book of mormon is not only a book of scriptural I1 doctrine in the same sense as the bible 9 but is also a record depicting how particular individuals attempted to reconcile themselves in their activities and beliefs to the willw illlilliii of deity while struggling to remain free from the wars that often threatened to destroy their existence these paint- ings and drawings were visual statements that attempted to capture the atmospheric mood and emotional force of these men and their experiencexperienceseseeso the works were designed to convey the action drama tension and spiritual impact of these emotional iiamesijames1 james Eeo talmage stated that the tookbook of mormon claimed to be tt aa6aa new scripture presentingpre intingfeintingseintingse prophecies and revelations notheretoforenonot heretoforetheretofore recoonrecognrecognizededainadainin roddodcaodlemern theolotheologytheologyetheologuegyegyo 0 e james eoE talmage articles of faithsaltfaith saitsalt lake city the church of jesus christ of latterlateer day faints 196291962 pop 2730 2 forces the beliefs these men embraced had a profound in-inewanew fluence on their livesilveslivesy resulting in exceptional experiences and contributions worthy of examination and investigationsinvestigationo0 P how the problem arosearoseoaroneo for several years the artist has been interested in the book of momonmormon as subject matter for drawings and paintings although many outstanding illustrations of the events of the book have been made few have attempted to focus specifically on the emotional and spiritual force of its events and personalitiesperson alitiesaliailtiestieb problemsproblem6 justification of the problem6 duriduring the course of history many creative artists have given man through their work a greater insight and a wider perspective as he sought to understand the spiritual nature of his existence they have produced works of real merit and expressexpressivenessivanessivenessgraphi- cally bringing to the world of art a deeper religious and spiritual significance their superb skills and creative talents in all areas of artertartincludingincluding painpeinpaintingtingo print- making and sculpture enabled them to penetrate the profound inner qualities of spiritual man 9 and to express themselves eloquently and forcefully in this realm of interpretationinterpretinterpretationsinterpretationoationo even though the philosophy of art has under gone vast changes since some of these artists livedlivecylivedy many of mans basic needs have not greatly changed not the least of which being his desire to understand the spiritual essence of life to- day there is growing controversy and skepticism about religious and spiritual matters many people including christian 3 clergymen have come to question the reality of a supreme beingbeingsbeingy and are confused by the turbulent events of todaytodays s world on the other handhendhendyhandythe book on which this thesis was based is intense and precise in seekiseekinggeeking to clarify mans existence through an explanation of his earthly purpose and ultimate potential as well as in attempting to explain his relationship with deitydeltydeityo in the light of the great art works that have been scripturally inspired and because of the religious philosophy of the book of mormon it was felt that an expressive thesis which captured the spirit and emotion of the men who wrote the book of mormon was appro- priate and austifjustifjustiftablejustifiablelablelabie creative direction of the problemproblems the direction of the drawings and paintings composing this thesis was based on personal interpretations andmidmud deep feelings the technical approach in expressing these feelings was also personal and interpretive liberties were taken to stress the action and emotionsemotion9emotion 9 which were the elements of greatest thematic signifsignificancesignia icanceacance many elements were exaggerated 9 altered or distorted for emotional expression and impact the gestures 9 facial expressions and physical proportions were all conceived to help transmit this elingofeelingfefeelingsfeelingo 2 toward a hidden godogod 11 time april 8 196691966 pp824087pp82 87 2 le corbusier stated that conception is the choice the decision of which emotion to transtransmitmito composition iiss the choice of means capable of transmittirgtransmittingtransmittiiig this emotion modern artartistsis ts on art 9 ediedleditedted by roberrobenrobertrobentt leL herbert