Finding Rest in Righteousness: ‘Elijah in the Wilderness’

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

Detail from “Elijah in the Wilderness,” 1878, by Frederic Leighton. Oil on Canvas, 92.5 inches by 82.6 inches. Walker Art Gallery, England. Public Domain

We are sometimes left physically, mentally, and yes, spiritually fatigued. We have jobs, families, studies, interests, and so on. It’s easy to often feel exhausted.

But artworks like “Elijah in the Wilderness” by Frederic Leighton (1830–1896), completed in 1878, may leave us with wisdom on how to feel refreshed despite our busy lifestyles. 

Elijah in the Wilderness

Elijah was a Hebrew prophet who confronted King Ahab and Queen Jezebel in their worship of Baal. Elijah warned the royals that their worship would lead to a drought in their land. Of course, the king and queen ignored Elijah’s warning, and there was indeed a drought.