Introduction
Historically most of the religious traditions used arts
and most of what is referred to as art were historically used religious objects
or shown as religious themes. Art is a conceptual or verbal discourse that
transmits information there affecting how individuals feel about something
rather that the transmission of conceptual information[1].
Religion is a set of beliefs, feelings, and practices that define the
relationship between human being and a sacred or divinity[2].
Arts have always been used to express the divine since they have a strong
emotional effect and ability to act directly upon perception before conceptual
thinking thereby enhancing religious experience.
There are various aspects that religion and art have in
common. The common issue between religion and art is that they strive to
express ideas in a concrete visual expression rather than in an abstract form.
Both art and religion are creations of the unique human brain that uses the
power of imagination to explain the past and the future. Both religion and art
give purpose and beauty to life that surpasses their survival by depicting the
perspective of particular times. Human art and religion create impressions that
go beyond the immediate survival purposes. Art and religion work towards
creating an emotion contact that enhances the emotions of joy, hope, and
empathy resulting to comfort in an imaging certainty[3].
Art creates particular factual realities external to the
creations of the nature using human thoughts and hands. It shares the power of
creation with applied science and technology. Art helps to reflect on humanity,
not as a mirror, but one shaped by emotions. Religions seek to understand the
universe as well as its forces. It tries to create a relationship with the
world beyond the limited factual understanding. From history, most of the
religious traditions utilized arts and communities and private individuals
invested significantly in religious art. Arts have always been used in
expressing the divine since natural and artistic beauty can evoke the presence
of a deep principle of the world.
Christian
Art
The spread of Christianity was facilitated by the
efficiency of the Roman Empire though some of its principles were
misunderstood. Jesus died, but his message did not and the word of his
teachings spread to the Jewish communities throughout the region. Augustine was
a philosopher in the fourth century who infused Christian doctrine with
Neoplatonism. Augustine attempted to reconcile his beliefs on free will like
the belief that humans are morally responsible for their actions and that life
is predestined. He did not have systematic instruction on Christian faith but
later learned to understand Christianity as a religion that could lead him to
attain his ideal. Augustine had a significant effect to both Protestant and
Catholic theology.
The rise of Christianity to dominate the Western religion
was inevitable as facilitated by some key moments in history. The arrival of
the Constantinian Dynasty in the early fourth century saw it rise in the West
upon the death of his father. Constantine saw a vision that had a sign of
Christ in a dream and Eusebius gave an account of it several years later when
Christ appeared to Constantine instructing him to place the heavenly sign on
the battle standards of his army. Constantine supported the God of Christians
and baptized before his death. Christian Bishops under Constantine acted as
officials to emperor advisors and tax exemptions were granted to Christian
priests and money from the treasury was used to rebuild churches. A decree was
issued to tolerate all religions, but Christianity benefited most since victims
of previous persecutions were compensated. New churches were built in Rome, and
the Christian cause was advanced.
Secularism is a principle that involves separating the
government institutions and from religious institutions. A significant
manifestation of secularism is the right to have freedom from religious rule
and teachings and declaring a state neutral on religion matters. It is a
movement towards modernization and moves away from traditional religious values.
State secularism in the United States has helped to protect religion from
government interference[4].
Secularism came into effect to reduce ties between the government and a state
religion and eliminate discrimination based on religion. Scholars have argued
that the separation of the church and state is a possible strategy deployed by
secular governments. What’s important is the relationship between the church
and the state. The separation of the church and state makes secularists claim
that politicians make decisions for the secular rather than for religious
purposes[5].
Strict rules characterized the middle Christian period
after the death of King Agustin to before the period of religious reformation
by the church, and it became a museum of artworks though not a normal shape of
it. Art was only for God and not other things. The history of Christianity
during the Middle Ages was a period between the Fall of Rome and the onset of
the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century[6].
It was a mark of the onset of the modern Christianity. The Christian church had
a significant decisive role in the establishment of republica Christiana. The church dominated after the fall of the
Roman Empire, and the only recognized religion in the Middle Ages Europe was
Christianity. Religious institutions such as the church and monasteries were
wealthy and influential since the State allocated significant budget to
religious activities. A monastery was a building where people lived and
worshiped and devoted their time to God. The people occupying monasteries had
not need of the outside world. Monk knew how to read and write and provided
education to the rest of the world[7].
They wrote books and kept recordings of major events. Christianity that spread
across Europe during the middle ages had a basis on the scriptures. Many of
those who dedicated their lives to the Church worked in monasteries and were
zealous about their faith.
The Church was influential in political matters and also
a source of knowledge that saw Irish monasteries in England serve as reliable
places for seeking education. The Church was strict on Christianity teachings
that established it as an influential pillar during the medieval period.
The Middle Ages witnessed the emergence of the early
Renaissance period where Byzantine Art was used as a style. The style of
Byzantium Art was characterized by religious art painting, members of the
religious places like monasteries were artists, and there were no sculptures
such as those used as forms of idolatry. The art was flat, and one-dimensional
with no shadows and the figures presented were front-facing. The early Middle
Ages art was restricted to Pietistic painting (religious) presented in the form
of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and paintings in churches. No portrait
paintings were used.
There were advances in art during the middle ages and
artists diversified from Byzantium and Romanesque style of art to Gothic and
Middle Ages visual art. The artists and painters introduced changes in art that
included the use of bright colors, sculptures, metal work (bronze art), stained
glass windows, the use of shadows and light, development of perspective and
proportion, fresh ideas on naturalism, and use of symmetry in art. The artists
also changed the subject matter by diversification from religion to animals and
mythological scenes. The major changes experienced in art during the Middle
Ages were as a result of the liberal religious beliefs and the efforts of
artists, sculptors, and painters to develop other styles[8].
Religious reforms in place were influential to the artwork.
Christian art used themes and imagery from Christianity,
and most of the Christian groups used art, though others had strong objections
to some religious images. The fall of Constantinople led to an end of Byzantine
art, and there was an increase in secular and common artworks. The Protestant
Reformation Christian art had a significant impact on the Christian art.
Artists started working on secular genres such as portraits, landscape
paintings and other non-religious artworks that led to a decline in the number
of religious works produced by the influential artists in the 18th Century. The
trend continued through the 19th Century where a universal approach to art
arose in Western Europe. The ancient and medieval Christian art was collected
for art’s sake and not for worship.
Styles
of art used
Romanticism was a movement of artistic, literary,
musical, and intellectual groups that started towards the end of the 18th
century. It was characterized by the emphasis on emotion and individualism,
praise of the past and nature, and preferred the medieval instead of the
classical period[9].
It was a reaction to the industrial revolution that started in England and
spread to France and America. Romantics challenged the philosophy of the
Enlightenment whose focus was on science and empirical evidence. The major
characteristics of romanticism include a return to nature, belief in the
goddess of humanity, promotion of justice, belief in emotions instead of reason
and intellect.
Byzantine art refers to the artistic products produced by
the Eastern Roman Empire and overlapped with or merged with the early Christian
art until the iconoclasm period[11].
Many of the artworks of the time were destroyed, and little remains today to
shed light on the artistic style. It was the finest style of art of the Middle
Ages regarding artistry and quality. The production of artworks using Byzantine
style was centered on Constantinople, and the major achievements included the
monumental frescos and mosaic in churches.
Miniatures of the 6th
Century
Romanesque (arch-shaped) was a method of architecture
used in medieval Europe and largely characterized by semi-circular arches. The
start of the style of the building is not certain having a range of between 6th
and 10th century that continued to develop in the 12th century into a Gothic
style that had pointed arches. Romanesque architecture combined the ancient
Roman and Byzantine buildings and is characterized by quality, thick walls,
round arches, sturdy pillars, vaults, towers, and decorative arcading. The
buildings having the style have a regular symmetrical plan and can be
identified across Europe. Romanesque architecture is massive low, and solid.
The Gothic structure was characterized by the pointed
arch, ribbed vault, and flying buttress. The pointed arch made most of the
Gothic architecture different from Romanesque work. Initially, the semicircular
and round arch was commonly used, but Gothic architecture changed it. However,
Gothic architects did not invent the design since it was used earlier in the
Near East by Muslim artists in Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe. After the
capture of Jerusalem in 1099, the use of pointed arch in Europe became
widespread. The plan of the church comprised of square sections called bays and
at each corner was a large pillar.
Protestants believed in a personal and intimate
relationship with God that had an emphasis on individual faith and did not need
to go to church for the forgiveness of their sins. Protestant art was focused
on small pieces used by individuals for worship at home. The art also involved
printmaking and was influenced by strict religious themes that encouraged
artists to expand their paintings to secular themes[14].
The protestant artists included personal traits, everyday life images, and
landscapes to their work.
Baroque is considered as a period of artistic style that
used exaggerated motion and easily interpreted details in producing drama,
tension, and grandeur. It was used in sculpture, paintings, architecture,
literature, dance, music, and theater. The style was first used in Rome in 1600
and spread to other parts of Europe. Its popularity and success were encouraged
by the Catholic Church as a response to the Protestant Reformation that arts
ought to portray religious themes having direct and emotional engagement.
Christianity
and Art
In spite of the secular influence that swept over Europe
and the Renaissance that spread to the entire world, the greater part of art
and poetry in the world has religious inspiration and origin. In the past ages,
churches have been the only patrons and art has always had a religious purpose.
Art creates a vague impulse to a higher world, but Christianity opens souls to
the possibility of having communion with God through sacraments and prayer.
Christianity and art cannot be separated since they both strive to express
ideas not in abstract forms like philosophy and science, but in a concrete and
visual expression[15].
The Christian church does not reject art. Christianity is
a religion that entails an incarnate God, Christ, who appeared in the whole
fullness of Godhead. The flesh was sanctified, and sin was condemned in the
flesh that shows that Christianity accepted various forms of art for Christian
worship but only condemned the sin part of the art. Sin in art originates from
the failure of acknowledging the divine origin and serving evil. Religious
artworks show individual emotions, and feelings since despite the artists
believe in God, they are also religious. Art matters to Christianity since it
influences poetry, dance, song, comedy, film, architecture, painting, stories,
theater, sculpture, and symphonies. Art results to vibrancy and beauty in life
and helps Christians to focus on the issues that affect life. The most
effective religious art is the Bible since it has parted with literary content.
Art has intellectual components that are enhanced by
emotions that make it powerful than other concepts and words. It can also train
and control human emotions. Art concentrates on personal emotions and draws
emotions for various purposes applicable in religion. Human perception of the
world is synaesthetic and the faculties such as vision, hearing, and language
that are interdependent. Areas other than a language like vision, and hearing
can express religion better and reach people at a deeper level. Arts are used
by Christians due to their strong emotional impact and evoking of a sense of
transcendence.
Characteristic
of Christian Art
Christian art has several characteristics that
distinguish it from others. Early Christians created mosaics of narratives from
the Bible and used colored glass. A significant type of Christian art and
architecture was developed in Egypt in Roman Empire that continued under Byzantine
emperors[16].
The identifiable Christian art is traced in the second century and onset of the
third century and the use images in art continue in the history of
Christianity. The various styles of Christian art in histories such as Gothic
Architecture, Romanesque, and Byzantine have several common characteristics.
All forms of Christian Art have to be pure, organized, natural, and that give
glory to God and establish peace on Earth. As evident in the different styles
used in Christian art, the objects presented are organized and seek to glorify
God.
Historically, the use of arts by religion and
specifically Christianity has some controversies. The strong emotional impact
of arts raises a concern that the audiences are distracted by the beauty and
tend to focus on the arts and not the words of the scriptures and religious
ideas. Some images used in the artwork are too enticing and beautiful that
makes Christians with Protestant tradition develop strong anti-artistic
tendencies. Another concern is how the arts represent the divine and what they
represent. Some Christian traditions believe that only scriptures and speech
can have correct ideas about God and his nature, but arts do it vaguely without
offering correct teaching.
Other
Religious Art
Other religions also have various styles of artwork such
as Muslim. Most of the Muslim art is in the form of architecture and varied
designs such as those copied by the Gothic architectures. Muslim art is
geometric and takes the form of plant shape patterns. The style of art does not
present any persons or animals such as those used in Christian art. The major
characteristics of Muslim art include the use of calligraphy, mosaics, and
detailed handwriting[17].
Islamic art is not always religious and incorporates several secular styles as
well. The major architectural types of Islam art are Mosque, Tomb, Palace, and
Fort. Mosques often have columns and domes, and originally the buildings were
made of clay, but later made of bricks and concrete. The exact appearance
depends on the century and the architect.
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Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in best custom research papers if you need a similar paper you can place your order from nursing paper writing service.
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