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How art plays in religion
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When art in the late antique period was represented by the Jews and Christians in Rome, the result was beautiful paintings, mosaics, sculpture and architecture. What is so unique about this era is that the pieces portrayed biblical scenes, people and places. During the time of Christian persecution, Christian and Jewish art was at times used as a communicator of undercover messages. Many of this art has been found in the catacombs, which were passages under Rome. The Christians and Jews used these passages for safe and secure homes as well as burial chambers. Because they were also used as burial chambers, they contained art just as much art as cathedrals and places of worship did. These pieces of art of are significant because they are the interpretations of events in scripture from people in that era.
Art from the late antique period usually depicted biblical themes such spiritual re-birth, creation, and scenes from the four gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This fact is evident even in architecture and reliefs. Art such as this helps Christians understand the bible because they illustrate pictures and events from the bible. When one sees a story from the bible in a picture, it aids in imagining what happened. Our faith may be strong, but sometimes it is inspiring to see these beautiful pieces that display how artistic Christians can be in art relating to biblical stories. This art is a definite reflection of the artist's worldview, as well as a witness to the world that Christianity was never a passing fad; it is a personal relationship. These gorgeous portrayals of biblical history and themes help one understand the development and magnitude of Christian art.
The life of Jesus was mirrored in m...
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...soleum is an interesting piece of architecture, it is not as beautiful as its inside.
After observing all the art in the chapter, it can be concluded that it is quite interesting as well as surprising that these artists put forth such effort to use so many colors and designs. The illuminated Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well (11-20) pictures a castle, camels with shading, and people who are wearing clothes with different colors. The mosaics always had beautiful, intricate designs, and the architecture was always decorated. These pieces of art are truly effective communicators of the Christian message and Biblical themes.
Works Cited
Kleiner, Fred. Gardner's Art through the Ages Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2009
The Holy Bible: New International Version Grand Rapids Michigan, Zondervan, 2002.
The content of this painting represents a Christian worldview because of all the symbolism inside the piece. The most predominant image in this painting is the light house, which is also the focal point of the piece. The viewers eyes are first drawn t the clouds in the top right corner of the painter before following the ocean waves to the shore that lead to the light house. A light house has always been a symbol of guidance as it is a beacon that guides sailors safely back to shore. Kinkade uses the light house in this painting to symbolize the love of God. The light house is shining brightly in his picture even though it’s not dark yet. In the same way God will always be a light to those to wish to follow Him. God will always lead us back to him and be a guide for our live. He will make sure that we always survive temptations. As the light house guides the ships out of the storm, God will always guide his people to the promise land.
Christianity has had a major impact in European history as the majority of the populations were Christians, and as many nations started out as Christendom. Even today, it has a profound impact in the decision making of nations and billions of people who follow its doctrine. Therefore, representing Christianity through the medium of art was an important factor artists had to consider. Many artists decided to paint the scene of the Crucifixion of Jesus as it is considered to be the most important scene for many Christians. Some artists, like Christus, opted for a more emotionally muted route while other artists, like Crivelli, went on to capture the emotional distress of the scene. Neither method is objectively better than the other as both artists
There are many symbols of freedom and individuality in Dennis Hoppers movie Easy Rider. The movie Easy Rider revolves around two bikers, Wyatt and Billy, making a trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans, to attend Mardi Gras. The first scene in the movie involves the two protagonists selling a large amount of cocaine to a gentleman in a Rolls Royce. After the drug deal two the bikers begin their journey to Mardi Gras, but not before Wyatt removes his watch and throws it on the ground. This action is shows Wyatt’s pursuit of freedom, because time serves only to constrain them. Once on the road you learn that their names are Wyatt and Billy, a reference to Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid who are considered American legends, as well as outlaws. Wyatt rides a chopper with the stars and stripes on the gas tank and on his helmet while sporting the now cliché leather jacket. Billy is dressed up like a cowboy; he is wearing all tan leather with a wide brim hat. Also throughout the movie Billy refers to Wyatt as Captain America. All of these things serve to ingrain the belief that they embody the American dream which is to earn enough money to pursue your dream. It just so happens that their dream is freedom, the same belief that led to the creation of the United States.
My theme of my visual essay is the Dome of the Rock and the controversy that surrounds it. The images for my visual essay are arranged in the order through which I plan to write my final research paper. The Dome of the rock is a 7th century building located in Jerusalem at the visual center of a platform known as the Temple Mount (which is illustrated in the first image). The name of the original sponsor of the building was Umayyad caliph ‘Abd al-Malik in 691 C.E. (Grabar, The Dome of the Rock 62). The second image is intended to aid in the visualization of the Dome of the Rock, not as a mosque, but rather an Islamic shrine that was built over a sacred site. However, exactly which sacred site it is, is still up for debate. Three different religious traditions have significance associated with this site. I am curious to examine how the significance of the Dome of the Rock for each religious tradition effects how it is portrayed in religious art.
This piece communicates what was valued most at this point in time. Christianity was at the center of life in fourteenth century Europe. So much so that these artist were commissioned to create these highly valued religious pieces most for private purposes ,so the people could have a relic or icon to worship in their homes. Specific artistic conventions had o be followed when creating these pieces. The monarchies ruled through the church. There was huge emphasis on the man and afterlife, To ensure eternal salvation man devoted their lives to spreading and commemorating the word of Christ.
Zuffi, Stefano. Gospel Figures in Art. Minneapolis: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003. Print.
Van Eyck’s work of the Ghent Altarpiece was not simply a representation of symbols that alluded to Christianity. Van Eyck’s vivid sense of the actual world allowed him to be able to reconstruct reality along with its endless limitations. His audience was so extensively involved with his paintings that it may seem almost esoteric. T...
When I think of art being associated with religion, the first thing that comes to mind is symbolism. Symbols are a very important thing in different religions. For example, in Hinduism and Buddhism, mandalas are used as a meditation tool and they symbolize the cosmos. These beautiful creations are symmetric arrangements of circles or concentric shapes. They are often seen as carpet designs, mosaics, and henna tattoos. People have started to realize their beauty more and more recently, but many don’t know that they stem from a religious belief. Another example is within Christianity. Christians use the symbol of the cross extensively in art. There have been many sculptures of crosses or Jesus on the cross made by artists since the beginning of Christianity. Even some Christian churches are in the shape of crosses to reiterate this symbolism. An example of a church like this is the infamous Westminster Abbey. Another way to describe this symbolism is iconography. Iconography in art is basically the repetition of certain images or ideas that are identified with something significant. These icons help someone to identify what the work is associated with. An example of this in Buddhist art is the depiction of buddhas or bodhisattvas. A buddha is a being who has reached enlightenment and a bodhisattva is a being who has reached enlightenment but chooses to stay in ...
...s of those who have lost their way. This can be noted by viewing the churche's various sculptures which are carved into some of its walls. Most carvings show in-depth illustrations of biblical stories. Although it is not known who created the wall sculptures, they are beautiful and are known to be respected in person rather than in photographs.
... the way that the artwork is resembled in the religious background of the gospel but reconstructed in to a celebrating impression. Throughout the fresco painting it depicts the myth of the Christ’s three fold temptations relating back to the article that “distinction between fresco and panel painting is sharp, and that painters are seen as competitors amongst themselves discriminating also, between the difference in genuine attempts in being better then the other.” Baxandall, “Conditions of Trade,” 26. in relation, the painting concerns the painter’s conscious response to picture trade, and the non-isolation in pictorial interests.
The representation of divinity was clearly defined in Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists through its subject matter, technique, and style. Christ acts as the focal point, but the artist also used different subjects from the Old and New Testament to decorate the apse. Unlike the mosaics in the apse of Byzantine churches, the artist employed the technique of classical fresco painting. The artist also applied decoration to the figures with the hierarchy of scale, and through the geometric style in the drapery instead of maintaining a sense of realism.
The Christian Church was absolutely instrumental in the art of the Renaissance. It was the driving force behind every inspiration; without the Church, there would have been no art. The Church was the only institution powerful enough to be able to support the commissions of all of the artwork, and it was the only institution, in which people had enough faith and devotion to spend so much of their time and money creating pieces that—although beautiful—were not necessities. The role of religion in art actually began during the Byzantine era. During this time, all artwork was religious in nature, and most of it was done in a consistently similar style so that figures from the Bible could be easily recognized by everyone and so that people had a consistent view of religious matters. Art during this time was largely iconic, meant to inspire the awe of God in the viewer. Along with various versions of the crucifix, one of the most popular images of the Byzantine style was The Pantokrator, an image of Jesus Christ as shown from above. An example of one of these pieces was done in the twelfth century in the abbey church of Monreale in the city of Palermo. Jesus is a monumental figure that takes up much of the space across the apse of the Church. One of his hands forms a mudra as the other holds the scripture. His fully frontal and direct stance along with the glimmering gold background serves to strike awe and fear into the viewer. Clearly this piece was done with the intent to impress the value and mightiness of religion first and attention to the detail and technique of the art second.
We do tend to expect certain things when we enter a place of worship, or peruse an active ministry, and truthfully, when taking in Christian oriented art. There are a couple reoccurring emblems, symbols, well-worn themes, and subjects which have been deemed safe, coming under overuse, carrying the weight of a saltine in the impact it makes on people, including us. While intentions are almost always well meaning, these conventions appear to the secular as a genre of its own in culture and art, quite often ringing with an unsavory note of incompetence. That’s already an unpleasant attribution to a faith that has changed the world, having built the infrastructure of empathy that has survived ages and permeates the social development of our western culture. It speaks to a deeper issue within the Church itself, which is a woeful lack of inspiration.
...ic one was viewed as a crossroads, the art of late antiquity is no less Roman. As our text states, “The Jewish and Christian sculptures, paintings and buildings, are Roman in style and technique, but they differ in subject and function from a contemporaneous Roman secular and religious art and architecture” (Kleiner Fred S, pg 209). The use of images from Classical Rome will be a continuing issue in the history of Christianity.
Art is important to religion in many different ways. Perhaps none has analyzed how art and religion have influenced and affected each other through the ages. Pictures painted of past events that help to bring back the feeling and importance of the past have been forgotten by some. To the one’s that haven’t forgotten are able to see the event’s as the bible says they happened. Not only can you see the events, but it also allows the younger students of the church to understand the events. The use of images of God became widespread after the second century. This religious art has defiantly been around for centuries and plays an important role to the history of religion as well as the future.