God's Employee

Ann Vallotton was a Swiss artist who died in December, 2013, at the age of 98. She is relatively unknown but has been called the most widely sold artist of all time. That’s because she created 500 illustrations for The Good News Bible which sold 225 million copies. This was one of the first of several translations written in everyday language, designed to make scripture understandable.

            The King James Version was the only Bible available in the Protestant Church up until the Twentieth Century and was difficult to understand because the “King’s English” represented the spoken word of the Elizabethan Age. Think Shakespeare, Folks. Thankfully, a handful of modern translations appeared. What a treat to be able to read such an important book and understand it.

            The American Bible Society commissioned a group of translators to take on the daunting task of creating The Good News Bible and in 1966 The New Testament portion was published. In 1971 a consultant from the British and Foreign Bible Society added his expertise to the American team, resulting in a translation of the Old Testament along with the fourth edition of the New.

The Most Widely Sold Artist of All Time 

            Ann Vallotton’s simple line-drawn illustrations accompany the modern text beautifully. Her stick-figure drawings don’t interfere with the reading but rather support it in a subtle yet meaningful way. My favorite is the one accompanying Galatians 6: 2: “Help carry one another’s burdens.”

            Interestingly, nowhere is Ann Valloton’s name mentioned in the Preface or copyright page of the Good News Bible. She asked to remain anonymous. Her goal was to make people want to read the scriptures and her beautiful, simple drawings do just that. They are delightful and her humility is inspiring. She was a gifted artist who obviously used her ability to glorify God.

A Truly Humble Servant

            The lesson I take is the awesomeness of her humble spirit. She totally exemplifies the instructions given by Paul to the believers in Colosse:  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for men. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.” (Colossians 3: 23-24 – The Good News Bible translation)

            God gifted this amazing artist with insight and artistic ability and she used it to encourage people to read his Word. Likewise, God has gifted each of us and wants us to use our abilities to honor him and point others to him.

            Find a translation of The Good News Bible and look at Ann Vallotton’s illustrations. Enjoy browsing through them and let them touch your heart. Think about your own strengths and abilities. Are you letting God use them to help others? 

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(Her illustrations don't show up in the online version of The Good News Bible, possibly because of copyright infringement. Instead, Google Ann Vallotton and you'll find her images. They are delightful and worth the search.)

(Information is from the Preface to The Good News Bible, Broadman Press, 1976 edition. Information on Ann Vallotton is from various online sites.)