A recent conversation I had with an abstract artist who also considers themselves a “Christian artist,” has given me the opportunity to give some thought to the role of abstract art in the Christian context. Can abstract art be Christian? Of course it can; if it is created by aContinue Reading
I write quite a bit about artists and the role of art, but what about patrons? By patrons I mean anyone who patronizes the arts in all its wonderful manifestations be it paintings, novels, movies, television, or music concerts. Every time we choose a painting to display in our home,Continue Reading
John of Fiesole (Fra Angelico), the patron of Christian artists, left us many paintings but few words. The quotes that are attributed to him, however, speak volumes. “He who wishes to paint Christ’s story, must live with Christ.” “He who does Christ’s work, must stay with Christ always.” On beingContinue Reading
Patron of Christian Artists, John of Fiesole is known to the world as Fra Angelico. “One has to believe that this good monk has visited paradise and been allowed to choose his models there.” – Michelangelo Buonarotti Blessed John of Fiesole, pray for us. Continue Reading
In the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, not too far from the Vatican, there is a statue by Michelangelo, Christ the Redeemer. What you may not know is that this is the second statue the artist carved to fulfill his commission. The first statue developed a flaw. As it was beingContinue Reading
The vocation of the painter, indeed the vocation of any artist, is first and foremost, to create beauty. Even evil, when depicted in their work, must depicted beautifully. Art that is ugly and shallow, with no Truth behind it, shows us a world without God. The role of the artistContinue Reading
What makes “Christian Art” Christian? Is there some value or quality that baptizes a work of art making it Christian? There is, but it may not be what you think. It isn’t about the subject matter, the genre, the style, the materials or the process. It isn’t even about the themeContinue Reading
Should a Christian artist paint themes from pagan mythology, other religions, or even fantasy motifs? Many artists who are deeply grounded in their Christian faith, especially those just starting out in their career, have questions about what is and is not appropriate subject matter. In a previous post I addressedContinue Reading
Why is the term Christian Art shunned even by Christian artists? I see this frequently, usually among well established artists who don’t want to be labeled by a specific genre. Fair enough, but I think there is more to it than that. The term Christian Art is avoided even byContinue Reading
Nudity has long been a staple of fine art, but many people feel it is inappropriate for an artist who is also a faithful Christian to portray nudity in their work. Is it? The answer, as is so often the case in matters of faith and morals, is – itContinue Reading