One of the most popular and enduring Negro spirituals is "Joshua Fit de Battle ob Jericho," in which Joshua brings down the walls of the city of Jericho with only a sword and the power of God. In this painting, Romare Bearden, one of the preeminent twentieth-century African American artists, depicts the battle that captured the spirit of freedom that is a part of the fabric of African American life. Throughout his career, Bearden’s art portrayed the lifestyle of Black America, from street musicians to Sunday church. His interest in what he called "the prevalence of ritual" led him to explore numerous Biblical themes. He repeated the Jericho theme several times, including Sermons: The Walls Came Tumbling Down, 1964, and Reverend John’s Sermon, No. 1, 1973.