The Story Unfolds
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Bring them here to me," he said. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Story Summary
Jesus miraculously feeds a vast crowd with just five loaves and two fish.
Masterpiece Showcase
Artwork Details
"The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes"
Lambert Lombard
c. 1550
Oil on wood
Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels
Curator's Insights
About the Art
Lombard depicts the moment of distribution, showing Jesus' disciples sharing the miraculously multiplied food with the amazed crowd.
About the Artist
Lambert Lombard was a Flemish Renaissance painter who studied Italian art and brought those influences to Northern Europe.
Historical Context
This work reflects the Renaissance interest in depicting biblical miracles as believable, human events.
Techniques Used:
Symbolism:
- Bread represents spiritual nourishment
- Crowd diversity shows universal provision
- Disciples as distributors show church role
Interactive Art Adventure
Look Closer
- Find the boy who originally had the loaves and fish
- Look at the amazed expressions on people's faces
- Count how many baskets of leftovers you can see
Creative Spark
Practice sharing like Jesus did. Bring a snack to share with friends and see how good it feels to give.