What comes to mind when you read the phrase ‘sacred art’? Perhaps a stained-glass window, a statue, or a towering cathedral. Most people have seen pictures of, or at least heard of, DaVinci’s Last Supper and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Art can be, and often is, used to glorify God, whether through architecture, music, or the visual arts. However, art in a religious context can often be misused, and many churches, especially in Protestant settings, have left it alone (DeYoung). Opinions often differ on how churches should present and use art, especially visual art. Should a church building be simple or awe-inspiring? Should churches have anything to do with the creation and presentation of art pieces? Despite many important and often controversial questions surrounding art and the Church, no one can deny that art has had an extremely important place throughout the history of the Church.
In the early days of Christianity, sacred art was almost nonexistent, because of Roman oppression, poverty, and a philosophical reluctance to attempt to depict the divine (Art In Context). However, with the conversion of Emperor Constantine, the numbers of Christians exploded throughout the Empire. The amount of art also increased, as Constantine built many new places of worship for the now-popular religion, and more wealthy Christian patrons had the resources to support the making of art (Art In Context). When Rome fell, art saw a significant decline, as barbarians swept over the empire. However, it exploded back to life in the Renaissance period. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, churches became major patrons of the arts, commissioning famous artists to fill their churches with elaborate paintings, frescoes, and mosaics. In this period, well-known artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Raphael produced some of the world’s most famous works of art for the church. Because much of the congregation could not read, the artwork helped them remember stories from the Bible and bring them closer to God during worship (Art In Context). These works, such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Creation of Adam, continue to inspire and awe people today, just as they did when they were first painted.
Visual art remained a central part of worship in the Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years. By the time of the Reformation, art had become so ingrained in the worship of the people that many groups of reformers saw it as idolatry and destroyed many pieces of art. Though Lutherans themselves did not see art as dangerous in itself, some reformers, including Zwingli and Calvin, forbade images of any kind in worship, and destroyed all the works of art from the old mediaeval churches where they worshiped (Iconoclasm). Protestantism certainly did not emphasize art as much as Catholicism, but some Protestant artists such as Albrecht Durer and Lucas Cranach did create great works of religious art. While the style and content changed significantly, art was not by any means banned by Lutherans. Lucas Cranach, a close friend of Martin Luther, created many works that reflected Protestant values. Though they still made art, Reformed Christians did not often use art in their new churches, believing it a distraction from the preaching of the Word. Additionally, many Reformed thinkers forbade the depiction of God or even Jesus (Sunshine). They believed the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below” (Exodus 20:4) meant that God could not be depicted in any form (Sunshine).
Throughout the history of the Church, visual art has held a huge part in the worship of God. Christians know that God is the greatest artist, and humans are his greatest work of art. God, the great Creator, “created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27), and humanity’s artistry—the will to create—is part of how we reflect the glory of God. God himself gave the Israelites detailed instruction to make His tabernacle full of art, such as cloth and golden ornaments (Exodus 25-27). He called the artist Bezalel, saying, “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of skills… to engage in all kinds of crafts.” (Exodus 31: 3-5). Humanity’s penchant for art comes from God, not from our flesh. But since we have all fallen into sin, the wickedness in our hearts can cause art to become an idol, whether through observation or creation. So, though art can certainly promote the worship of God and reflect His glory and creativity, art must never become more central in our hearts and minds than our own Creator.
Works Cited
Art In Context. “Christian Art—A History of Christian Artwork and Biblical Paintings.” Art History, Art In Context, May 26, 2022, artincontext.org/christian-art/.
DeYoung, Kevin. “The Church and the Arts: Some Common Ground and Some Common Sense.” The Gospel Coalition, October 9, 2009, www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/the-church-and-the-arts-some-common-ground-and-some-common-sense/.
“Iconoclasm and Reformation.” Deutsches Historisches Museum, www.dhm.de/blog/2017/08/08/iconoclasm-and-reformation/
Sunshine, Glenn. “The Reformation and the Visual Arts.” Breakpoint, December 7, 2017, www.breakpoint.org/the-reformation-and-the-visual-arts/.
Photo Credit:
https://www.parisperfect.com/blog/2017/07/sainte-chapelle-stained-glass/