Scripture
Ezekiel 43:1-7 (ESV)
”Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever…”
AI Prompts
First Image: An ancient man, dressed in traditional attire, is kneeling in the middle of a vast stone area, resembling an open plaza in an ancient city. The scene is designed such that no buildings are visible, focusing solely on the expansive stone surface and the man. The sky above is clear, and in the background, a magnificent cloud of radiant colors approaches the man, creating a mystical and awe-inspiring atmosphere. This setting emphasizes the man's solitude and the grandeur of the open space around him, highlighting the contrast between the ancient, open plaza and the ethereal, colorful cloud.
Second Image: A traditional religious scene depicting the Annunciation, an event from the Christian Bible. The setting is a humble, Middle Eastern room from ancient times. The Angel Gabriel, dressed in flowing, ethereal robes, appears on one side, with ethereal wings, a peaceful expression, and a radiant halo. Gabriel is holding a lily, a symbol of purity. On the other side, the Virgin Mary, dressed in simple yet elegant robes, looks surprised yet serene. She is seated, with a small table and an open book in front of her. The room is filled with a divine, soft light, emphasizing the sacredness of the moment. This painting should capture the essence of Renaissance art, with attention to detail, balanced composition, and a sense of tranquility.
Process/Reflection
Considered in the light of the New Testament, what's astonishing about Ezekiel's vision within a vision here is that he's witnessing Christ's incarnation. The Glory of the Lord, i.e., his visible presence is filling this new, pure temple that has been (seemingly) made without hands. Therefore, I wanted to create a diptych that would visually communicate this idea. The first image was difficult to get right. I had to go through several iterations of trial and error with AI. The setting and the posture of the main figure were the most troublesome. The setting needed to be ancient, but not in ruins. I wanted the man to be traditionally Middle-Eastern and kneeling, but not on a prayer rug. Etc., etc. etc...Finally got one I liked and touched up a few minor details in Photoshop (using some of their AI fill tools). So, AI within AI. The second image was easier by comparison, I suspect because there is a lot of artwork depicting the annunciation for AI to analyze.