Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction

5C- Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction

            Saints are specific people who are recognized by the Catholic Church for their extreme holiness and virtue.  Because of their significance to Christianity, the early saints to the modern saints are often the subject of many pieces of art.

            The physical remains or relics of past saints has significant importance to Christians.  Because they were all real people whose bodies still remain on Earth, the location of their remains is usually celebrated as a holy place, particularly on the day of their death.  People believe that their physical remains have healing properties and simply by being near them, their bones can cure illness and undo disabilities.  Shrines are often created at the location where a saint was venerated and brilliantly decorated tombs are created for their remains.  People still take pilgrimages to the remains of certain saints to pray for their help or for their healing properties.  Alters used to be placed upon these tombs and churches built around them in honor of the saints.  Overt time, too many churches were created to continue this tradition but saints are still revered at churches all over the world.  The alters are decorated with painted panels depicting the saints and full length alter pieces represent them associated with their miracles.  Saints are also given an attribute, a physical object with which they are usually portrayed concerning some aspect of their lives which is used to help identify them.  For example, St. Stephen is shown with stones at his head because he was the first martyr and was stone to death.

            The Alterpiece of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, created in the 1479 by Hans Memling is an example of the portrayal of saints.  At the time, it was common to show groups of saints and a scene showing the Virgin with Child surrounded by two male saints and two female saints is a specific arrangement of this known as ‘sacra conversazione’ or ‘holy community.’  In this particular alterpiece, there is St. Barbara, St. Catherine, St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist.  St. Barbara is shown with a small tower because she was locked in a tower by her father who did not approve of her conversion to Christianity.  St. Catherine is shown with Baby Jesus putting a ring on her finger because she refused to marry the Roman Emperor, claiming she was already the bride of Jesus.  St. John the Baptist is shown with his usual identifier, a lamb.  St. John the Evangelist is shown holding a chalice with a snake in it, referencing when he drank a cup of poison given to him to prove his faith to Jesus.  The alterpiece is so intricately decorated that even the inside wings have scenes to be visible when the alterpiece is open.  On one flap is the beheading of John the Baptist, and the other shows a very detailed scene showing The Apocalypse, as predicted by John the Evangelist.  The exterior of the wings shows the donors of the alterpiece, two monks and two nuns of the hospital, each shown with their patron saint- St. James, St. Anthony, St. Clare, and St. Agnes.  This was done so the members of the hospital could see who was responsible for the construction of the beautiful alterpiece.

During the 16^th century, people began to destroy the masterpieces created in honor of the saints and instead used the raw materials to create new works dedicated to worshipping Christ.  Even though the Catholic Church continued to preach for the worship of saints, this still continued.  Caravaggio, however, was a brilliant artist who came out during this time and painted many works showing Christian scenes, including scenes representing the saints.  One such work of art is called Martyrdom of Saint Matthew.  This work shows the death of the martyr during his mission to Ethiopia.  Caravaggio uses his artistic talent to convey the emotional tension involved in the murder of Saint Matthew.  This was a technique that further developed during the Late Middle Ages and its purpose was to evoke emotions for each viewer rather than simply depict the saint.

Baptistery Cathedral Visit

This past week I visited the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Piazza Duomo. My favorite part of the Baptistery was the ceiling or the dome. It was incredible how intricately it was designed and I can only imagine how difficult that was to create so long ago. I learned that the ceiling is made of mosaic tiles that depict passages from the Bible and the lives of Jesus and St. John the Baptist. Another interesting fact I learned while talking to some people in the Baptistery was that parts of the floor represent astronomical aspects. There is a hole at the top of the dome which allows the sun to shine through and as the sun moves, it changes where the light is shining in the Baptistery. I found this to be an amazing fact considering the Baptistery was built in the 1000s. We had already visited the Golden doors for class, but I still found them gorgeous on this trip. I was surprised by how many entrances there are to the Baptistery and how they all have meaning because of the direction they are facing. On the inside, there are also statues near each door, like the three men above the northern doors. The colors on the inside of the Baptistery were the same as the outside which I found interesting because it seems like usually the inside of cathedrals and religious buildings are more colorful than the outside. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to the Baptistery, mostly because of the astrological meaning behind the floor and because of the intricacy of the ceiling mosaic.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore: Il Duomo di Firenze

 When I first arrived in Florence for the semester, I knew that there was one landmark that I wanted to see and; furthermore, experience via attending a mass in. I have had a chance to attend numerous masses in the chapel of Santa Maria del Fiore; better known as "il Duomo." il Duomo has been one of the most impressive landmarks I have seen while in Florence.  I have also had the privilege of attended two masses inside of the Cathedral. One thing that impressed me while inside the cathedral was the artwork which was present on the inside of the actual dome, the meticulous detail of the artwork reminded be similarly to the artwork present on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

One thing that I found extremely impressive was the acoustics inside the cathedral; in addition, to the fact that during the masses, the celebrant did not use a microphone. During the masses, both the voice of the celebrant as well as the somewhat "hypnotic" sound of the organ music resonating throughout the entire cathedral the sudden feeling of chills ran down my spine. For me, attending masses in the cathedral is a very tranquil and calming experience.

During my visit to the Baptistery, I was in awe as to how it was more intricately and heavily decorated when compared to the actual Cathedral itself. For example, on the ceiling, an impressive gold décor can be seen; in addition to the actual interior of the Baptistery which contributes to the overall cathedral's sense of divinity. Another thing that I found fascinating was that as people were baptized inside the cathedral, each person was systematically entered through the baptistery's façade; thus, they were baptized. After the baptism, each person was “granted access,” into the actual Cathedral itself.

Visit to the Baptistery and the Cathedral

It has taken some time to collect my thoughts about this visit.  These buildings are incredibly beautiful and the detail in the architecture, paintings, sculptures, and decorations throughout are just stunning.  It is hard however to appreciate the artistry in such a chaotic setting.  There were so many people there to appreciate these historic and religious sights that it almost takes away from the peacefulness of these buildings.  They have so much history and when you walk in you feel the energy change.  The demeanor of the people is different from on the street - a respect for what these buildings represent.

What is also remarkable to me is the scale of the buildings.  They are very elaborate in their size and their decoration.  Power, stability is what they represent and that is interesting considering the history that the Church has faced.  Those that believe, believe passionately and that can create a contagious faith in their reality.  This is what people come from all over the world to see - the faith and passion in religion and in it’s history.

Santa Maria del Fiore: Baptistery, Cathedral

     Without a doubt, the Duomo has been the most impressive landmark I have seen in my time in Florence.  I have also attended three masses inside of the Cathedral!  I was very much impressed by the artwork featured on the inside of the dome, as well as with the height of the massive pillars, supported by arches and vaulting.  There is the body of the Cathedral, with side altars, each of which have separate apses for more intimate prayer experiences. The altar itself was much more simple than I had originally imagined, especially back in high school when we studied the Duomo in an art history class... It was truly awesome to get to see everything in person. However, I personally found the most impressive part of the Cathedral to be its acoustics. The very first mass I attended there a few Sundays ago was at 7am, and the mass was held in the right side altar.  The celebrant did not use a microphone, as the congregation was small.. but the projection of his voice resonated throughout the entire structure, giving me the chills.  Likewise, at the more recent two masses, the organ's booming sound echoed about four or five times before its sound finally faded.  With this in mind, we might consider how this lofty, heaven-like sound would have contributed to the Florentines' conceptions of heaven.
    When I visited the Baptistry, I was surprised that it seemed to be even more heavily decorated than the Cathedral itself! With a ceiling of impressive gold decor, the interior of the Baptistery certainly contributes to a sense of the divine.  I also noticed that from the way the ceiling was decorated, it gives a spectator the feeling that it is much taller than it actually is! I found it interesting that when people were baptized, they would systematically enter through the baptistery's facade, become baptized, then be 'granted access', or be welcomed, if you will, into the Cathedral itself.  This was the same procedure that I saw at Pisa!

Duomo di Firenze

The first thing I noticed about the Cathedral is that is surprisingly bare.  It was immense in size, but there were few decorations, especially when compared to how elaborately decorated the outside of the building is.  Other churches that I have been to have contained many more frescos, statues, sculptures, and mosaics that the Cathedral.  I would imagine this is because they were more concerned with how others perceived the church that the inside so it was constructed to be much more impressive on the outside that on the inside.
The Baptistry, on the other hand, looked nothing like the inside of the Cathedral.  One of the most impressive things there was the ceiling which was decorated with depictions of many religious figures.  I assume that back when these buildings were constructed, the Baptistry had more religious significance because that was where everyone took their babies to become free from original sin, and so much more time was spent into the appearance of the inside of the Baptistry than was spent on the inside of the Cathedral.

The Shroud

The Shroud

At the start of the documentary, this extremely relevant point was brought up, how the shroud of Jesus Christ was left behind; in addition to what eventually happened to it. It was something that I found this notion extremely fascinating. After the explanation, as to how the alleged shroud had been discovered, I was immensely intrigued; however, one thing that I was skeptical about; however was that the alleged shroud had the actual imprint of Jesus on it. I was wondering how the imprint could possibly last on that single piece of cloth for thousands of years. Because of the likelihood that people could recreate the image, I was not convinced that this image was indeed the image of Jesus Christ: The Son of God. The defining moment that made me convinced was when the research done by doctors mentioned the discovery of the blood stains present on the shroud were pure blood; thus, the blood of Jesus Christ. The various impacts that the shroud had gone through, was uncanny; from wear and tear, to fire damage, and after all the damage, the shroud still remains intact. When examining the image of the shroud more closely, the image the documentary was discussing became very clear; in particular, the step-by-step process of how Jesus was laying and how the shroud was wrapped around him. I found it fascinating that the plant fibers on the fabric were analyzed in order to discover where the shroud had previously been; in addition to the fact that a piece of fabric thousands of years old could still contain traces of plant material that could be traced back to the native land; in addition to, how the plant fibers on the fabric were analyzed in order to discover where the shroud had already been. It was amazing how far the shroud had already travelled when considering the extremely fragile condition of it. In more recent times, when people went to view the shroud, the documentary mentioned the experiences viewers were having, which I found both intriguing as well as fascinating. When viewing the shroud, people stood in awe due to the fact that the shroud was not only the alleged shroud of Jesus Christ, the shroud could possibly be the key to unwrapping more missing links from the past.

Overall, I found the documentary extremely interesting as well as intriguing as the topic was one that I never considered to even remotely think about before; however, in the one hour timespan of the documentary, I became engulfed in the topic.

The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin

     In today’s class, we watched a video on the Shroud of Turin, which is recognized as potentially having been the original shroud that clothed the corpse of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion.  This was an interesting video, as it explained, in depth, the possibilities of the shroud’s origin(s), as well as the way that the shroud’s history has affected other members of the Catholic faith ever since its investigation.

     The term “belief” inherently implies a sort of faith without needing factual knowledge or evidence… Keeping this in mind, this film offered some convincing facts that might lead one to believe that this shroud is, in fact, the shroud of Christ.  Safely tucked away in the Cathedral of John the Baptist in Turin, this shroud have given both the religious and the scientific something to talk about…

     When carbon-dating experiments, the shroud was revealed as being “fake”, for, if the numbers were correct, it would have been far too young to have been in existence in the time of Christ.  Conversely, in 1978, the stains embedded in the shroud were tested to be real blood stains, not merely a paint or any work of some conniving artist looking to create a rouse among religious believers across the globe.  It was even proposed that artists such as Leonardo da Vinci could have just as well created a similar shroud, but these assumptions were quickly nipped in the bud, as this shroud was documented to have been on display and under investigation well before da Vinci’s lifetime!

     Having recited the Stations of the Cross throughout grade school, I remember well the story of Veronica as she supposedly wiped the face of Jesus on his way to the Cross.  Similarly, I began watching this video doubting the shroud’s historical legitimacy.  Personally, I found the photography of the negatives to be the most interesting part of the presentation of evidences.  The blood stains so accurately portrayed the intricate form of the human body, and the exact punctures (wrists, ankles, side, crown of thorns, and back scourging), that I have trouble doubting that this shroud is legitimate.  The precision and detail of the remaining bloodstains were not fully revealed (or visible) until the age of photography… and I also find it ironic that the shroud has stayed in such impeccable shape throughout so many centuries… It seems to be existing in perpetuity..

 -Margaret Mary

Santa Maria del Fiore, Archbishop Archive, Orsanmichele

Santa Maria del Fiori, Archbishop Archive, Orsanmichele    

     Today’s class was very informative.  It was great being able to break out of the classroom and gain hands-on experience with the city.  Since taking A.P. Art History in high school, I have had a slight obsession with Santa Maria del Fiori; I loved hearing more about the building and its place within the ancient city of Florence.  I had no idea that the Piazza has cemeteries beneath it… or that the bell tower doesn’t ring during the Lenten days.

     At the Archbishop’s Archive, we learned a multitude of things about how the Florentines had made use of paper and even parchment parchment to record special events, such as marriages, births, and deaths… Personally, I found it very interesting to think about how people have come to understand the concept of “history”… If such events, names, dates, and places hadn’t been written down and recorded, we would have no idea where we come from.  It is through these written records that we can bridge the gaps between our past, present, and future.

     As I learned about the intimate relationship between both the religious and political centers in Florence, I realized that the layout of the city of Florence absolutely reflects that relationship.  Another interesting parallel I drew during today’s class was the similarity between the books of recorded baptisms, as they featured the names of the newly-baptized as well as the names of their parents!  Similarly, at the Archaeological Museum last week, I saw that as per the Egyptian tradition, the name of a deceased person, as well as their parents’ names, was featured on each coffin.

    From our journey to Orsanmichele, I learned that although the omnipresent image / icon of the Madonna and Child depict both the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, the focal point of that classic image is the Christ child himself.   I also found it interesting that the two 'sides', if you will, of the church each depicted only images of one gender. This brought upon my question as to why the depiction of Mary would have been so prominently displayed on the male side of the church...  Little did I know how thoroughly a child could dwarf his mother! 

-Margaret Mary DeMark

Archives and Piazza Duomo

Archives and Piazza Duomo

That was the first time I entered the Church of St. Michael and sat down in one of the pews. The silence was incredibly therapeutic. Whenever I sit in a church, I feel more connected to my inner spirit. It was interesting to learn the church was built on a kitchen garden and was at one time a grain market.  The vibrant colors of the paintings added to the spiritual experience. The archives were a surprising revelation. I admired the way the workers handled the books with care. For instance, the female worker opened the book case of individual records with soft gloves carefully. It’s astounding how these books have survived throughout the ages. The fact that someone recorded birth names and such by hand is astounding. Our new world of technology has almost eliminated the task. The architecture of the Piazza del Duomo is pretty close to perfect. The Golden Doors were majestic. The beauty of the exterior and interior of this extremely detailed historic landmark is mesmerizing with its many stories told with each sculpture. I look forward to doing more of these class trips in the near future because it’s not the same when you’re just viewing these landmarks on a powerpoint. It was certainly an enlightening experience.

Archaeological Museum

     This week, I visited the National Archaeological Museum of Florence as a requirement for my study of the History of Christianity.  There, I observed various works of art from different cultures.. and different time periods, as well.  Having taken an A.P. Art History course in high school, I was very much intrigued by many of the works displayed as part of this multi-floor exhibit!  Personally, I found the slabs of clay featuring cuneiform to be one of the most interesting pieces in the whole museum... Especially having learned about Mesopotamian culture in social studies classes throughout my life, the "art" of cuneiform, if you will, was easily recognizable to me.  They dated back to the Neo-Sumerian period, which was about 2150-2000 a.C.... Incredible!

     I also found the Egyptian section of the museum to include some incredible original pieces... in particular, the "sarcofago e cartonnage di Takerheb" (Coffin and cartonnage of Takerheb).  The multi-colored, intricately detailed outer shell of the coffin was breath-taking. I could hardly imagine the amount of time and effort that had to have been invested in order to create this masterpiece. I also find it interesting to consider all different aspects of a piece... For instance, who commissioned this coffin?.. who decided what the writings and pictures should depict?.. what would it mean in relation to the Egyptian concept of the afterlife?... It sent my mind reeling. (Gladly) there was more information on the wall relating to many of the pieces, and upon reading the one for this Coffin, I learned that the name of the deceased person was inscribed in the wood, as well as the deceased person's parents' names. The sky goddess Nut was also depicted in the interior. I also asked a woman who worked at the museum to show me the most "important" of the Egyptian works, if you will. She directed me to an original chariot that had been used when the Egyptian dynasties were prevalent! 

     As for the Etruscan section of the museum, there was one "sala", room, which really impressed me.  In this room, there were probably upward of fifty different (small) sarcophagi. Initially, I was taken back at the size of these works, as they were only big enough for my arm!  However, I read that these particular sarcophagi were used to store (bury) the bones of the deceased, after their bodies were burned. I also noticed that these sarcophagi nearly always depicted the deceased person (in their likeness), as reclining on what would be his or her left side.  This was reminiscent of the fact that the deceased would be at peace, as per the religious beliefs and beliefs regarding the afterlife held by the Etruscan culture! It's amazing how much a culture's art can so accurately reflect values and belief systems.  I wonder what 'modern art' says about us?

The Shroud

The Shroud

The Shroud of Turin is believed to have held the body of Jesus Christ after he was crucified and laid in His tomb. The documentary our class watched explored the supporting and opposing evidence of the Shroud. Many followers of Christianity look upon this piece of history in awe. Many questions race around the minds of believers. Is this really the Son of God? How can we know for certain? The documentary left me with doubt. However having doubts goes along with any faith or religion. Experts placed the origins of the Shroud in the Medieval Period using radiocarbon dating, which can provide an estimate of organic materials for up to 60,000 years. I thought it was fascinating how the Shroud has survived the test of time, through erosion and fire. The dating of the cloth could have tampered with through the ages. It depicts the classic bearded Jesus that all of religious culture has conjured up in the minds of believers. The man imprinted on the cloth is certainly an icon. I find it disheartening that we will never completely know if it’s really Him. However I do not need the cloth to reaffirm my faith in Jesus Christ. I believe in Him regardless.

The Shroud

When this documentary first started I thought it made a very good point: no one ever mentions the shroud that was left behind or what happened to it. It was something that I had never thought of before and it made me wonder why nothing is ever mentioned. Once it was explained that the supposed shroud had indeed been found I was even more intrigued. However, when the documentary stated that the shroud had Jesus' imprint on it, I became doubtful to be honest. I was wondering how it could be possible that a piece of cloth could have the shape of a body imprinted on it, similar to a painted canvas. Many people tried to recreate the shroud and it's image, but none looked quite the same. I wasn't convinced until the research by doctors was mentioned, and they found that the blood stains on the shroud were nothing but pure blood. I couldn't believe how much the shroud had gone through, from wear and tear, to fire damage, and yet it was still intact. When looking at the image on the shroud more closely as the documentary progressed, I began to see more clearly the image they were discussing. The step-by-step figures of how Jesus would have been laying and how the shroud was wrapped around him really brought the image to life for me. It was curious how the plant fibers on the fabric were analyzed in order to discover where the shroud had travelled to. I had no idea that a piece of fabric so old could still contain traces of plant material that could be traced back to their native land. It was amazing how far the shroud had travelled considering it's condition, which I believed to be pretty good considering it's physical state. More recently, as people would go to view the shroud, I enjoyed how the documentary mentioned the experiences viewers were having. People would stand in awe at the old piece of fabric, which may be key to unwrapping more missing links of the past. Overall, I found the documentary very intriguing because it was on a topic I had never even considered to think about before, but in just one hour I was mystified by its wonder.

Evidence of Jesus Christ

Some stories are known to be true, others are not. The story of Jesus Christ living, dying, and being resurrected is one that requires reasoning to believe. Most Christians believe the bible is enough- it tells the complete story of Jesus Christ before, during, and after his death, from the points of view of many of his most dedicated followers or deciples. However, now that thousands of years have passed since this book has been written, some have felt the need to find new pieces of evidence to examine, something more scientific that could prove that Jesus was a real man. Once piece of evidence that people turn to is the Shroud that Jesus Christ himself was believed to be wrapped in on the day of his crucifixion.

            The movie we watched in class about this Shroud of Turin was an interesting story of the Shroud itself. It was interesting to think that some might place their faith in this three thousand year old sheet instead of the bible itself- however this piece of evidence is crucial for some to believe. For example- a Christen can believe in Jesus Christ their whole life without ever hearing about this Shroud. Nevertheless the Shroud itself could be the only material thing that actually depicts Christ. The movie goes through the place the Shroud has been, who has had possession of it, as well as the scientific tests it has been though in order to claim it as the sheet that was placed over Jesus Christ himself.

            While it is obvious from the movie that the Shroud is a credible source of evidence, I think that the point of view in which the story was told is one sided. In my opinion- I think faith in a higher power, in this case Jesus Christ - is based on more obvious sources of evidence. It goes back to the dispute between religion and spirituality. If you are a spiritual person, you will believe what your conscious tells you too, if you are not, one might need excuses and other reasons in order to believe. People that are clearly Christians made this movie, it would be interesting to see what a less biased party would have reported about the Shroud, until then, I do not think I can fully understand the meaning behind the Shroud. 

-Claire Shumaker