The significance of religious art

Is religious art important?

Who finds religious art important?

• The artist• The community of believers (religious people)• Society

Why, or in what way do you think these groups find religious art important?

Task one - The importance of religious art to the artist

Why do you think that artists choose to produce religious art?

The next few slides will contain quotes from religious artists. For each one decide, and write notes on:

• Why art is important or significant to them and the religious motivation for their art.

My paintings are not concerned with the surface appearance of people or things but try to express something of the fundamental spiritual reality behind this surface appearance.  I try to express in visible form the oneness and unity of this invisible power binding all things into one whole.I also try to express something of the universal and timeless truths behind the stories in the Bible.

John ReillyDavid and

GoliathCrucifixion

Resurrection

The Sixth Day of Creation

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The importance of religious art to the community of believers

Think now about how art is important to Christian communities. For the following examples, decide, and write notes on:

• Why this art is important or significant to Christian communities.

The Vatican in Rome

Michelangelo designed the dome for St Peter’s. The circular St Peter’s Square at the front is designed to look like a pair of arms; Mother Church opens her arms to gather in countless waves of pilgrims and visitors who come to her from every corner of the earth.

This statue of St Peter is inside the Vatican. The feet are worn away from kisses of the faithful.

Coventry Cathedral

Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt after being bombed in the Second World War. The theme of the new cathedral was reconciliation. This theme was important to the people of Coventry as it reminded them of the key Christian belief of forgiveness. The Chapel of Reconciliation, the old cathedral and other sections of the new cathedral remind the Christian community of this belief.

The importance of religious art to society• Is Christian art important to society

as a whole? For the following, decide..

• Why this art is important or significant to society.

St Paul’s CathedralSt Paul’s Cathedral was completed in 1708. It was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666, when the old cathedral experienced so much damage, it was not considered worth saving. Today, as well as being a place of worship, the cathedral is a tourist attraction and has been used for state occasions such as the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The dome contains the famous Whispering Gallery. It contains memorials to many significant religious and non religious figures such as Winston Churchill, Alexander Fleming, Florence Nightingale and Lord Nelson

The Book of Kells*Google The Book of Kells and

find out more about it!

The inspirational power of religious art

How can religious art inspire?

Look at the following religious art.

1. How could the art inspire religious people?

2. Does the art inspire you in any way?

Creation stained glass from Holy Ghost Catholic ChurchHammond, Louisiana

Last Judgement by Jacob de

Backer

A Gothic cathedral

How religious art informs

• How does the following religious art inform people?

Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper (enhanced version)

The stations of the cross

* These would be found displayed around a Catholic church

The Good Samaritan by Marc

Chagall

Key questions:

• Which is more important – the inspirational power of art or its informative content?

How important do you think that religious art is within a secular (non religious) society?