+++++ What Thomas Kinkade said about this work +++++ "I carried my paint and canvas up the windy heights of Mount Arbel to capture this dramatic view of the Sea of Galilee. Galilee is the heart of bible country; nearly a half-dozen of the small towns that figure prominently in the New Testament are visible (if barely) from these heights. My vantage point was none-too-secure, so I painted with a real sense of urgency. I think this sense of excitement adds an element of drama to Mount Arbel." ~~Thomas Kinkade

Mount Arbel Mount Arbel is prominent 282 meter mountain located near the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in the vicinity of ancient city of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. From the lookout atop the mountain, one can see almost all of the Galilee into the Golan Heights including Safed, Tiberias and most of the Sea of Galilee. Below lies the Valley of the Doves, a natural access route into the lake area and a route probably used by Jesus as he traveled back and forth to Cana and Nazareth. Thomas Kinkade set up his easel on the top of Mount Arbel on a windy day with gusts of 30 knots. To deal with the windy conditions, Kinkade had to develop a high wind setup for this particular weather challenge to keep his easel stationary. The view from Kinkade's location is historically the best view of the Holy Lands with the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee visible in the distance. Kinkade painted most of this piece on location, but also brought it back to his studio for the final touches.