Art/ Heritage

SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS

The Raising of Lazarus
Giotto
1304 – 1306
Scrovegni Chapel, Padua

The painting illustrates the famous miracle of life. Two groups huddle on either side. The group to our right seeks life, while the one to our left represents the Giver of life. Mary and Martha serve as a prayerful bridge between the two groups.
The artist reveals human emotions through facial expressions. Notice the man dressed in green. While he raises his right hand in request towards Christ, he turns in astonishment to face the miracle behind him.
At the call of Christ, Lazarus, wrapped in a shroud, walks out. The women closest to the grave shelter their noses from the stench of death. Through this the artist conveys that death can never have the last word because Love is always stronger than death.

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Art/ Heritage

SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS

The Annunciation
Henry Ossawa Tanner
1898
Philadelphia Museum of Art

The artist presents a unique representation of the Annunciation. In the intimacy of a chamber, a simple Jewish peasant girl encounters the Divine. The angel takes the form of light. Notice how the vertical beam intersects with the horizontal shelf to form a cross, foreshadowing the crucifixion.
The warm light enlightens Mary’s being. The Virgin wears no halo. Her hands are clasped in humility, her head tilted upwards and her eyes are focused. She is receptive to the will of God.
As fear is replaced by contemplation, and contemplation evolves into acceptance, heaven holds its breath. Mary says yes, and in this yes, are sown the seeds of our salvation.

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SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS

The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci
1495 – 1498
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie

Here is the most timeless image in art history. A large table dominates the scene with Christ at the center. Two groups of three apostles each sit on either side. The painting captures two moments – the reaction to the imminent Betrayal and the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

To our left notice, Peter holds a knife. It foretells his attempt that night to slice the ear of Malchus, the high priest slave. Next to him, a distracted Judas reaches for the same bowl as Jesus. Significantly the artist captures their reaction to their betrayal. While Peter moves towards Jesus, Judas pulls away.

Amidst this chaos, the self-giving posture of Christ symbolizes the Holy Trinity. God’s love is beyond betrayal. It is Eternal. The artist invites us to partake in this Love.

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O HOLY COMMUNION: St Joseph and the Christ Child by Guido Reni (1638 – 1640), The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

‘What a sublime vision to have the Son of God ever before his (St. Joseph’s) eyes! Ecstasy most rare! Rapture most marvelous’ – Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

The Artist: Guido Reni (1575 – 1642) is one of the most illustrious Italian painters of the Baroque period. Born in Bologna, Reni came from a family of musicians who encouraged his visual art skills. Eventually, Reni moved to Rome and became the primary leader of a strong Bolognese art contingent there. Like his contemporaries, Reni drew on Biblical and Classical subjects. His works are strategically sculptural, handsomely humanized, and deeply dramatic. The grace and veracity of Reni’s serene compositions won him the title ‘the divine Guido’.

Mastering the moment, the artist captures the divine in his beautiful painting titled ‘St Joseph and the Christ Child.’ He produced two other renditions on the same theme.

Description: As we gaze at the composition, St Joseph steps out of the shadows into a mysterious light. In his arms he beholds the glory of the Incarnation – God made flesh. Joseph holds this mystery with gentle care. He supports the length of the body of Christ Child with his bare hands. Notice those tender lines of age on his sagging skin. It reflects the frailness of the elderly and the delight and delicateness of a newborn. And yet Joseph looks neither back nor forward. He envisions eternity ‘face to face.’

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SACRED ART IN 100 WORDS

Holy Trinity
Masaccio
C 1426 – 1428
Santa Maria Novella, Florence

The painter invites us to dwell upon the ‘Throne of Grace’. The Merciful Father presents to us the ‘Body of Christ’ (the Holy Eucharist). The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a Dove. The Sorrowful Virgin leads us to her Son, while St. John the Evangelist is seen receiving this great mystery of love. At the bottom notice the sarcophagus with a skeleton. Above this Memento Mori is the words – ‘I once was what you are and what I am you also will be.’ Amidst the inevitability of death, the artist reminds us that eternal life and salvation rest in the saving love of the Holy Trinity.

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