I've had this book, I thought the cover was unique... but it always struck me how Jesus' tunic is quite short in this one painting...however, subsequent editions cropped this out. It's still a nice painting. The artist is Richard Hook Biography - Detailed Bio and Artist Biography of Richard Hook (christcenteredmall.com), sometimes, the credits of his paintings also include his wife Francis Hook. His work has probably been seen already by many, one thing I saw said he's been taken up by "Evangelists" but the above is undoubtedly a Catholic book published by Liguori publications. His work takes after very much, 1950s and 1960s commercial art. One source I read, said that his market dried up a bit with the advent of television and so, he and his wife turned to the inspirational market. Oh and by the way, as for the tunic in the first image, he has many illustrations of native Americans as well. Could that have influenced him perhaps?? Possibly his most famous image, I believe I have seen this on Holy Cards: More, downsizing image, I don't mean to take a lot of space if that is a concern. : Living Bibles illustrated by Hook: Living Bible Story Book book by Kenneth N. Taylor (thriftbooks.com) And this last image is an example of his rather many depictions of Native Americans. I ponder if he might have had some Native American ancestry. So, perhaps, I'd like to add more, a rather fruitful artist. Another one, the crucifixion, small picture, His Mother is in blue at the foot of the cross: I say modern day and though, I don't know a lot about this artist, I think he has gone on to his heavenly reward now, for a number of decades.
This image (shown above in TinNM's post) was very popular in evangelical Protestant churches from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s.
The wife's work, they say they merged their work together sometimes, anyway, a statue of her's can be seen here: ARTIST FRANCES HOOK STATUE THE CARPENTER JESUS FIGURE | #33103241 (worthpoint.com) <---- I'd say this statue is of St. Joseph actually, not Jesus... I think they got it wrong. Maybe not...
I think it’s meant to be Jesus as the certificate of authenticity that accompanies it states its meant to be a representation of Christ, though I have to agree with you it looks more like St. Joseph
