Back to Religious LDS Art   ONTO THE PLAINS OF SHINAR Original 54"x 66" Acrylic/Canvas Painting "Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." "And I took Lot, my brother's son, and his wife, and Sarai, my wife......And also my father followed after me." (Abraham 2:3 - 4, see also Genesis 11:31) This Old Testament/Book of Abraham scene portrays Abraham and Sarai (Sarah) leaving the city of Ur, as commanded by God, to cross the desert wilderness to Haran. Abraham is shown discussing the route with his nephew Lot. The scene is viewed from the higher ground at the edge of the Plain of Shinar, looking south across the marshy Euphrates River, the earthen/brick ziggurat and city of Ur of the Chaldees, and into the flat, remote Al Badiyah Al Janubiyah (Southern desert) of Iraq. In the distance is the mountain range at Safwan, Iraq, forty miles away. CANVAS Art Prints (32" x 39") Limited Edition of 400, Signed by the Artist $385.00 (24" x 30") Limited Edition of 1200, Signed by the Artist $265.00 The artist researched the Sumerian culture of that period (the Third Dynasty of Ur) to establish mode of dress, bronze weapons, methods of transportation, animals of burden (the onager wild ass of the Middle East), even the ancient Middle Eastern Saluki dogs. Terrain research was really quite simple to do. Lt. Col. Thomas was an official U.S. Army Combat Artist in Operation Desert Storm. While on armed patrol with the 1/1 Cavalry Squadron, 1st Armored Division, Easter Sunday 1991, Thomas arrived at the Euphrates River, near the ancient ruins of the City of Ur. His research photos and battle maps from that location proved to be valued references in painting the lay of the land. Terah, the father of Abraham (left), was painted using Norman Rothman (author) and wife, Annette, of Salt Lake City. Semitic by lineage, born in Brooklyn, Norman is a Mormon convert from the Jewish religion. He is the author of two religious books. The artist's son-in-law, Al Vargas, his daughter, Kelly, and their children were models for Abraham's nephew, Lot (center/left), and family. For Sarai (Sarah), wife of Abraham, Artist Frank Thomas used his wife Patreecia. As a Mother and grandmother, endowed with a natural beauty, she has been painted in his other historical works over the years. L. Jay Silvester was the model for Abraham. Jay is a four time Olympic discus competitor and medallist, a retired Brigham Young University track coach, and retired Army Reserve Colonel. Now at 60+ years of age, and still an imposing man, Jay has the facial and physical structure Thomas wanted in his portrayal of Abraham, Prince of the lineage of Shem.