The Faith Revealed: Sacred Art and Architecture

How the visual arts reveal the truths of the faith

Welcome friends! This is the second video in our course in written form. Join us on the "Videos" page if you'd like to watch. This article is purely supplemental or for those who prefer to read or want to go back and take notes on specific sections. Enjoy!

Let's begin in prayer:

The Eucharist by Leanne Bowen

Pray Visio Divina with the image. You can find a detailed article on how to pray Visio Divina here.

What is Sacred Art?

Sacred art is art that deals with religious themes, is steeped in symbolism, and has a place in worship. Sacred art is not just something pretty to have in your house that is somehow related to God. Sacred art is an invitation to encounter God and the narrative of our faith in the form of visual beauty. The symbolism of this art is also catechetical in nature, meaning that it teaches us about the truths of the faith. There is also no one style of sacred art. Every artist brings their own unique genius, vision, and God-given talent to a piece. Because of this, two different images can highlight different truths about God while exploring the same subject. However, remember from our last presentation that beauty delights, surprises, leads us to God (the Good and True), and has inherent order. So, a truly beautiful piece must do all of those things in order to convey the truths of the faith effectively. The most important aspect of sacred art is that it should invite us and draw us into prayer and contemplation. When we view sacred art, we should slow down and take time to contemplate what it is proposing to us. This invitation to prayer and encounter with God is what makes sacred art, sacred art. So, what does sacred art look like? Let's take a quick tour through the history of Christian art.

A Crash Course in Art History

Early Christian Art (150-450 AD)

Early Christian art is typically found on the walls of catacombs since Christians at this time were not allowed to openly practice their faith. These frescoes typically depict the life of Christ and the martyrs. The style draws from Greek and Roman art at the time and also relies heavily on symbolism since persecutions were commonplace. The symbolism veils the true meaning of the image and kept the community safe. As you can see in this image of Christ healing the woman with the hemorrhage, (Roman catacombs, 300's) Jesus and the woman are dressed in Greco-Roman fashion and aside from the woman touching the tassel on Jesus' cloak, there's no other indication that this image is meant to portray this moment. On the surface, it does not look Christian.

Byzantine Art (450- 1450 AD)

Christian art took off after the legalization of Christianity in 313. One of the oldest and most enduring forms of sacred art is the icon, which became popular during the Byzantine Empire and is still the only form of religious art in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches to this day. Icons really are the highest form of sacred art because they are not meant for decoration, but for prayer. Icons invite us to contemplate the mysteries of God, to gaze on Him as we would with Scripture. To that end, when speaking of icons, we say they are "written" rather than painted since we are speaking of visual scriptures. Icons can be identified by their unique style: flat faces drawing you into the mystery and gold backgrounds, meant to evoke Heaven. Even modern icons are written in this style.

Medieval Art (450-1200 AD)

Western Medieval art has a very similar style to the icon. The figures have a bit more dimension and the colors are more varied. Medieval art is best known for "illumination" or paintings used to decorate books and "illumine" what the text on the page was saying. Because of this, Medieval religious art tends to focus primarily on Scripture since the images are tied to the text. Books at this time were handwritten by monks and nuns and the illuminations both added beauty to the page and gave the mostly illiterate people an idea of what was going in in the text. This is also the reason stained glass windows in churches built during this time are so intricate. They allowed people who could not read the words of Scripture to encounter the Word of God in a way they could understand it, visually.

Renaissance Art (1300- 1500 AD)

Art as we tend to think of it really took off during the Renaissance period. Many new churches were being built and painters added beauty through murals, frescoes, and mosaics on the walls and sculptors made sculptures and reliefs for side chapels, tombs, and architectural features. Many famous artists such as Di Vinci, Michelangelo, and Fra Angelico come from this period. As for style, artists began to move away from icon-style figures in favor of more realistic figures because natural-looking human forms were a big focus of all Renaissance art. This is also about the time Gothic style churches were beginning to gain popularity over Basilica and Romanesque style churches. Gothic architecture was far more intricate than the previous styles, allowing for copious amounts of artistic additions.

Counter-Reformation Art (1600-1750 AD)

The Reformation was a huge blow to the way art was done in the Renaissance, especially since the emergence of the printing press. The Church knew she needed a way to form the hearts and minds of her people in Catholic teaching and turned to artists for help. The art of the Counter- Reformation is unique in that it not only was meant to make church buildings beautiful, but it was also meant to defend all that the Protestants were skeptical of- namely Mary, the Sacraments, and the saints. Many more famous artists come out of this period such as Caravaggio, Bernini, Rubens, El Greco, and Barocci to name a few.

Modern Era Art (~1750- present)

Finally, the Modern Era in art began around 1750, coinciding with the beginning of the Enlightenment. This is the beginning of the decline of religious art since the Enlightenment encouraged people to be skeptical of religion. Also, due to the mass amounts of religious art produced during the Counter- Reformation, churches didn't need any more art. For artists, "doing something new" meant painting portraits and landscapes. Religious art, of course has not gone away entirely. Prayer cards gained popularity in the early 1900's putting religious images on small cards people could carry around with them that also reminded them to pray. Today you can find plenty of modern religious art on sites like Etsy. While this art is not necessarily meant for churches and public worship, it has enriched the spiritual lives of many faithful people everywhere. Also, with the rise of digital images, art can spread farther than earlier pieces could in their own time.

How Does Scared Art Help Us Grow in Holiness?

Now that we know what sacred art is, we can start to answer how it teaches us truth and helps us grow in holiness. First, as we saw in our history crash course, art has long been used as a visual catechesis. The composition, subject, and context of the piece can tell us a lot about what we believe through symbolism and subject matter. As we learned from icons, sacred art is meant to draw us into prayer which is conversation and relationship with God. Growing in relationship with God means growing in holiness. Art can also model for us what a life of faith looks like through images of the saints and regular people receiving the Sacraments, attending Mass, praying, helping the poor, reading Scripture, and so on.

Sacred Art as a Visual Catechesis

Let's take a look at how art can catechize by looking at two images of the Trinity.

The image on the left is a modern rendering of line art print you might find in an old missal. The Trinity is positioned taking up the top center and is surrounded by various saints and angels in positions of prayer and worship. So, what does this have to say about the Trinity? First, notice how the Persons of the Trinity are arranged in the space. They are all on top of each other, yet are still distinguishable as separate Persons. You can see which is the Father, which is the Son, and which is the Holy Spirit. Also, they are all contained within the same space, a circle, in what is known as a mandorla, which is an ancient symbol for divinity. (Traditionally mandorlas are almond shaped, but they can also be circles.) So what does this tell us? The Trinity is one- they are all contained in the same space (one mandorla), but they are also distinct since each Person is identifiable. The Persons of the Trinity are also mutually in-dwelling, meaning that they exist bound together in relationship, hence the stacking. (Another helpful image of this is the analogy of the Trinity as a musical chord. In music you "stack" three notes to make a chord. You play the notes at the same, but you can still identify each note. They dwell together in relationship, but you can distinguish one from another.)

Now let's look at the next image. The image on the right is El Greco's The Holy Trinity. It was originally painted as an altarpiece for a convent in Spain. Again, let's look at how the Persons are arranged in space in this painting. The Father is holding the dead Body of Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is light breaking through the thick, heavy clouds. The whole scene is surrounded by angels. This image shows us how salvation works. If you've ever paid close attention to the prayers we pray at Mass, you have probably noticed the phrase, "To (or from) the Father, through the Son, and in (or with) the Holy Spirit" or similar wording. This is called the mediatorial formula and it explains to us how salvation works. (Salvation comes from the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. We pray To the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit). This image is this formula in visual form. God the Father is holding and beholding God the Son who has just totally emptied Himself in love for us, and the Holy Spirit envelops the whole scene, ready to raise the Son. Love is palpable in this image, from the bright and vivid colors, to the loving gaze of the Father, to the image of the sacrifice of Christ, and finally the all-enveloping light of the Holy Spirit.

As mentioned above, art can also give us a visual example of the saints and everyday people living out their faith. The image on the left is of a monk playing music and praying. You know his music is prayer by the way he seems so intent in the music and the way the light is filtering in through the stained glass window. The image in the center is of a priest celebrating Mass. This image is a great visual theology of the Eucharist. You see the Trinity appearing to come out of the host surrounded by saints and angels. The viewer is also part of the scene worshipping the Lord just behind the altar servers. Not only do we see that the Eucharist is truly Jesus and that the whole Body of Christ is present at every Mass. The image on the right is of a woman pausing to pray before a triptych (a three- paneled folding image typically with either Mary and the child Jesus or the crucifixion in the middle and saints on either side) in her home. I wanted to include this image because this is how we are to use sacred art in the home. We are meant to pause and let the image call us to prayer.

Symbolism

One thing that adds depth to our contemplation is the symbolism used in art. Art is full of symbolism. Symbols function within art as little nods that tell us more about the story behind the image and are their own language that convey truths without words. Symbolism is especially important as we begin to talk about architecture. Let's take a look at an image to see how symbolism functions in art.

The Annunciation by Giuseppe Andreis (1800's)

Notice first the dove with the ray of light coming out of it just under God the Father at the top of the window. The dove is a common symbol for the Holy Spirit and rays of light denote divine power. You will also notice that God the Father is visible in this image and seems to be wrapped in a salmon- colored sheet rather like the one in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Anyone who has seen that piece would instantly recognize the figure as God the Father.

Next, the angel Gabriel is holding a small bouquet of lilies. Lilies typically symbolize purity, and if they are present in Easter images, resurrection and new life.

Now, notice how the wall behind Mary is lighter than the rest of the wall. This is the modern version of the halo, which is an ancient symbol for holiness.

Finally, notice the scroll on the table in front of Mary. In religious images, the scroll is typically an image of Scripture.

So, what does all this tell us? First, the fact that there is a scroll in front of Mary tells us that Mary is a person of prayer. She was engaged in the study of Scripture (which is prayer) and is someone who is in relationship with God. We also know from the presence of the halo and the lilies, that Mary is a holy and pure person. Finally, we see that it is by the power of God in the Holy Spirit that she conceives in her womb. The child she will bear is the Son of God.

What Can Church Architecture Teach Us?

Now, let's take a look at architecture. Take a look at this video from Symbolon on Formed! (watch up to 2:18, if you don't have a Formed account, you can sign up for free through St. Monica's! Simply click Sign Up, click "I am part of a parish or organization", type in St. Monica Kalamazoo, and enter your email.)

Church buildings are meant to draw us into the mystery of God and dispose us toward worship. We can see this in both the design of churches and in their decoration because as Dr. Sri mentioned in the video, symbolism is often built right into a church!

Architecture Terms

As we begin to familiarize ourselves with architecture, let's first learn some important terms.

The image on the left is of an old cathedral layout. Notice how it is cruciform and the sanctuary is facing east. The cross shape is for Christ and churches typically face east since this is the direction from which we traditionally believe Christ will come again. The sanctuary begins where the image is labeled "chancel". All the dots on this image are pillars.

The second image is a more modern typical parish church layout. It has all the same pieces, but the choir (where monks or nuns would sit) and the side chapels are not present.

Finally, the third image is a labeled diagram of Chartes Cathedral in France. Notice how the lines of both steeples draw the eye upwards, toward Heaven. Notice also how the doors are called "portals". This is another way of reminding us that we are stepping into a sacred space.

Now let's take a look at some specific parts of church architecture and explore what they mean.

Columns

Columns come in many shapes and styles and are important architectural and structural features in churches. There are three types of columns. Doric columns are a bit simpler and are said to be based on male proportions. In ancient Greece, temples dedicated to the male gods would have Doric columns. In Catholic churches, Doric columns are used in churches dedicated to male saints or like we saw in the video from Symbolon, on columns where male saints are honored.

The second type of column is the Ionic column. It has a bit more detail and is traditionally thought to be based on female proportions. In ancient Greece, Ionic columns would have been found in temples dedicated to the female goddesses. In Catholic churches, Ionic columns are typically found in churches dedicated to Mary or other female saints.

The last type of column is the combined column which uses elements from both Ionic and Doric columns to create one very elaborate column. These columns are typically found in more important buildings such as cathedrals. These columns are typically decorated with plant motifs to evoke the garden of Eden to remind us that we are in the presence of God and that all creation is ordered toward worship.

Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass windows are a common feature in churches because the light and vivid colors are meant to remind us of Heaven. Also, as mentioned earlier, before most people could read, these windows were the way the people would learn the Scriptures and about the saints. The windows invited them visually into the story of salvation.

It has also been said that music is the ear's way of participating in the cosmic harmony and art and architecture is the eye's. No where is this more obvious than in a rose window. In the center of the rose is always an image of Christ. Then arrayed around Him are images of saints, angels, prophets, kings, and every day people. This is a visual representation of a well- ordered world, a world with Christ at the center. The rose window shows us that everything radiates out from Christ.

Sculpture

Sculpture is an important feature of any church. Sculpture in churches typically depicts Jesus, Mary, or the saints. They are used both in the interior (in side chapels, in shrines, tombs, and tabernacles) and on the exterior (typically to decorate the building or in gardens). The most common piece of sculpture, one you may even have in your own home is the crucifix. The crucifix reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us and it meant to make us stop and thank Him for this gift whenever we see one. This is one reason why people will often hang them over doors in their home so that we will remember Jesus.

What Churches Teach Us

Churches are built to draw us physically and mentally into the mystery of God. Notice how in the image above, all of the lines draw the eye toward the tabernacle and the altar. The tiles on the floor act as arrows pointing us toward the sanctuary and the arches and the blue ceiling draw the eye to the sanctuary and point the eye down toward the tabernacle.

The same thing occurs here. The lines of the arches draw the eye down toward the crucifix, altar, and tabernacle. The exterior of the church uses pointed gables to draw the eye up toward Heaven.

Churches also offer us a visible theology of the Mass. We know that where the Eucharist, the Body of Christ, is, there is the whole Body of Christ, the Church, both alive and deceased, present and absent. Where the Eucharist is, there are the angels and saints adoring. We see this in ornately cathedrals and basilicas such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, pictured above. The congregation is surrounded by images of the saints and angels, surrounded, as it were, by "a great cloud of witnesses". The ceiling is painted blue with stars to remind us of Heaven and the gold behind the saints is also meant to evoke Heaven, as icons do.

We can see the same thing in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in St. Louis, MO. The gold mosaics all around the church depict the lives of American saints who were either from here or served here. When you walk into a church like these, you are reminded that we are never alone on our journey of faith and the whole Heavenly host is present at our worship.

As Dr. Sri pointed out in the video, churches also are a visible and physical way to immerse ourselves in the story of salvation. In churches like St. John Lateran in Rome or in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, you are able to physically walk though images of Scripture in the Old Testament or the life of Christ. The mosaics here function just like the stained glass windows in old churches. Even the smallest child can learn the story of our faith just by looking around the building.

Church exteriors are built to point us toward Heaven. The tall steeples and triangular facades all draw the eye upward toward Heaven, reminding us yet again that this is sacred space. The crosses at the top remind us as well who it is we worship in this building and who lives inside.

Finally, churches come in many styles and each is built to serve a specific mission. For example, the image on the left is a monastery in Oklahoma. There is a dormitory attached for the monks who live there. The church is built to serve the needs of the monks and be a place of prayer at all times of the day. The image on the right is St. Thomas Aquinas Student Parish at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. You can see it has some mission- style influences (a style common in the American southwest). What is a mission style church doing in the Midwest? The style reminds the students and resident parishioners of their mission to evangelize the campus.

Wrapping it All Up

To recap, church architecture and decoration can tell us a lot about about what we believe. First, they physically orient us toward God and remind us that we are in a sacred space. They are meant to draw us into prayer. Second, churches also teach us about what we believe happens there and visually shows us the story of our faith. Finally, churches remind us of our mission. They remind us who we worship and the work Christ calls us to do in this world. Someone once said that "architecture is art we live in", so just like other visual arts, architecture has so much to teach us about our faith.

Living Beauty: A Take-Home Challenge

The challenges this time are designed to make you think about the art in your life and what it is trying to say to you. Pick one, two, or all three and let us know how it went in the comments!

1. Next time you are at Mass, come a little early and look around the church building. What do the architectural features and decoration have to say about the Catholic faith?

2. Research some sacred art and find a piece that speaks to you. Print it off or buy a nice copy to hang in your home and let it invite you into prayer and contemplation.

3. Try your hand at making your own sacred art! Be sure to begin with prayer- ask the Holy Spirit to help you (the prayer from the beginning of the last presentation is a great one) and encounter God in your own art!

Any questions or comments? Let us know below!