Relationship Between Religion and Art in Medieval, Renaissance and Contemporary Times

We are also shown how these different forms of art change over time and how different cultures have adopted them and used them as their own form of art to express emotion, love, creativity, and passion. This book teaches us how art is viewed in different ways by the church and was very informative for me to obtain a better and deeper understanding of art and how the churches valued it.

Religious artwork has been prevalent throughout all of history. Christian artwork has been ever changing and evolving based on what it going on during the time period in which the work was created. In Romanesque artwork, art was imaginative and involved mysticism along with themes that represented their fears of the end of the world. In Gothic artwork, the art turned away from evoking fear and instead had the goal of bringing people into the church. In the fourteenth century, the religious art responded to the crises of the time period. During the Renaissance, artwork shifted to an interest in realism, which can be seen in Raphael’s Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John. The medium for this work of art is oil paint. it was painted in 1500 and is 47 inches in diameter.

For most civilizations, religious figures have had a large influence over the lives of the common people. The Roman Catholic Church was a very influential figure in many civilizations. It can trace its origins to over 2000 years ago. One of the Church’s most influential periods of this time was the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Church played a very big role in the lives of the people during that period. For many, it was the center of their life. The three most important impacts of the Church on medieval life were their secular roles concerning laws and their position over the state, the way that the Church unified Europe, and their power over the common people.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversy surrounding the church, the institutions it established cleared a path for a new way of thinking, shaping society in an enduring way.

This style favored subjective perception and rebelled against life-like depictions. In a similar way, because unregenerate hearts cannot fully recognize the handiwork of God in art and in the natural world, unbelievers can only appreciate art at a subjective, superficial level, even if they understand the historical and cultural context of a given work of art. Believers, however, can see the deeper meaning behind even the artist’s message because they recognize that all artwork reflects the creativity of the original

As time constantly presses forward and the earth continues to revolve, the world will never stop progressing and adapting to better suit the needs of mankind. The evolution of religion has greatly enhanced the quality of life for humanity by providing individuals with a strong belief system that is now the foundation of many peoples’ core values. One universal religion that has undergone extensive amounts of reform is Christianity. In particular, the Catholic church is well-known for the development of their famous ecumenical council meetings that help determine the future of the church. Numerous Councils have been conducted throughout the course of history, but none more significant than the most recent, the Second Vatican Council or Vatican II. The Catholic church was operating as if it was still the medieval period and desperately needed to be modernized. As a result, every Roman Catholic Church official was gathered to meet and devise a plan for how to introduce the church to the modern world. Consequently, the following will reveal the Second Vatican Council and the ramifications of the agenda, history and theology evolution, significant texts, and new developments.

“In a time of great political chaos, the Roman Catholic Church was the single, largest unifying structure in medieval Europe.” This quote from the MNSU “emuseum” describes the Church as a primary source of stability for the people in Europe, spreading its influence far and wide. Although some may argue that the Middle Ages were a time of darkness, feudalism, and even golden innovation, the Middle Ages were undoubtedly the age of faith because of the church’s power, wealth, and the massive influences Catholicism had on the lives of all people.

Before the Vatican II the Catholic Church was an aging dinosaur, still crippled by the Reformation and unable to relate to contemporary man. It emerged from it a modern Church, tolerant and accepting of other religions,

The Catholic Church dominated the western world between 590 and 1517. The church fully controlled and dominated over religion. In addition, it also regulated philosophy, morals, politics, education and art. As a result of neglect of vital Biblical doctrines of Christianity, the Catholic Church controlled most of the life aspects. It had full domination over the decisions that political institutions made. Theologically, the Catholic Church was ailing and most of its requirements led to atrocious corruptions. It is during this era that Rome nearly departed from teaching Biblical lessons. The church engrossed in heresy to an extent that it was not possible to regulate the corrupt deals that took place in the institution in the name of corruption and other evils. The essay critically evaluates some of the causes of this aspect of corruption during the middle ages, ways in which the leaders manifested corruption and how corruption impacted on the society and to the Church from a historical perspective. Given the fact that the Catholic Church had power over political and religious systems, its exercise of power created a situation that the society then

This period housed many depictions of the Virgin Mary, including Cimabue’s Enthroned Madonna and Child. Mary was seen as the perfect example of feminine virtue, showing chastity, piety, humility, and maternity. Images of the Madonna, or Mary, whether sculpture or painting, encouraged women to live up to her. Mary wasn’t the only woman that was looked up to in Renaissance art. Women could be portrayed as witches, saints, temptresses, or members of the working class, and their image would still be an encouragement to dress and behave properly. (Jacobs)

No one artist ever fully expressed themselves as an individual. Every artist produced art with similar qualities. Early art subjects were initially regulated and there was no attempt to portray realism in somber Byzantine Art. I think the works of art that came out of this era involved colors that were commonly subdued. Also, individuals in Byzantine Art were commonly painted facing forward and often had elongated, thin and serious faces. Byzantine Art was absolutely one dimensional, meaning perspective and shadows were not present in the creations. I discovered that eventually medieval art improved from the style portrayed in Pietistic painting to the form presented in illuminated manuscripts, mosaics and fresco paintings in religious buildings. I think the the advances of art during these times were due to the variations in more open-minded religious principles and the determination of the innovative art techniques developed by the artists of the Middle Age

During the Renaissance, many wealthy families aimed to become patrons of the arts to show their status. As a result, in addition to religious works of art that praised the god and the divinity, the Renaissance period is rich in portraits of popes, dukes, cardinals and other nobilities. It was prestigious to hire famous artists to demonstrate patrons’ power and wealth. Portrait of Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de’Medici and Luigi de’Rossi by Rafael (1518), Cardinal Bandinello Sauli, His Secretary, and Two Geographers by Sebastiano del Piombo (1516), Portrait of Isabella d'Este by Leonardo da Vinci (1499-1500) are just a few examples. While church continued to order art works to spread the religion, many important rulers used art to spread

Artistic Styles from the Renaissance to Illustrate Religion and Individualism The most well-known pieces of art were created during the renaissance. The most famous and inspirational artists of all time were from the renaissance. Most of the world knows about the artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, both lived during the renaissance. All artists have to find their own sense of style, what makes their art, their art.

From 500 to 1000 AD Byzantine Art was the main form of art used. It began with the foundation of Constantinople. This form of art was developed from the arts of the Roman Empire. Byzantine art

The piece of art is a statue that portrays Jesus’ body laying on his mother Mary’s laps at the time after the crucifixion having been removed from the cross (Lewis & Lewis, 2008) which is evidenced by the marks of small nails and the indication of the wound located in Jesus’ side. It revolves around the major theme of Northern origin which during that time was present in France but not in Italy. According to (St. Peters Basilica, 2009) Michelangelo offered a unique interpretation of the pieta to the models since it is a significant piece of work that balances the ideals of a new beginning incorporated in typical beauty and a touch of naturalism which is illustrated by the relationship exhibited by the figures. This is made possible by his skill to prove to both the viewers and himself of the supernatural beauty.