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TODAY'S PRESEN TATION

• Introduction
• What is Christian art
• Early Christian Art
• The Importance Of Christian Art
• Example of Christian Art
• The Influence Of Catholicism In The Filipino Arts
C hristia
n Art
History and Characteristics
What is
Christian art?

Christian art is sacred art that uses themes and imagery from Christianity. Most
Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, including early Christian
art, architecture, and media.

Christianity makes far wider use of images than related religions, such as Islam
and Judaism. Images of Jesus and narrative scenes from the Life of Christ are the
most common subjects. There have been periods of iconoclasm within
Christianity, though this is not a common interpretation of Christian theology.
What is
Christian art?

Christian art is sacred art that uses themes and imagery from Christianity. Most
Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, including early Christian
art, architecture, and media.

Christianity makes far wider use of images than related religions, such as Islam
and Judaism. Images of Jesus and narrative scenes from the Life of Christ are the
most common subjects. There have been periods of iconoclasm within
Christianity, though this is not a common interpretation of Christian theology.
 Early Christian art, also called Paleo-Christian art or
Primitive Christian art, architecture, painting, and
sculpture from the beginnings of Christianity until
about the early 6th century. The earliest identifiably
Christian art consists of a few 2nd-century wall and
ceiling paintings in the Roman catacombs
(underground burial chambers), which continued to
be decorated in a sketchy style derived from Roman
impressionism through the 4th century. As
Christianity developed, its art reflected the prevailing
late antique artistic climate. Narratives tended at first
Early to be typological, often suggesting parallels between
the Old and New Testaments.

Christian Art
 The
Importance
O f Christian
Art
Artists use their artwork to express their
faith or to describe Biblical events and
Christian beliefs. Their works are frequently
intended to create a specific impression on
the audience. Some pieces of art are
devotionals, meaning they are intended to
make the viewer think deeply about faith
and beliefs.
Example
of Christian
Art
Last Supper
(1490s)
B Y L E O NAR D O DA V IN C I

the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with

his apostles, as told in the Gospel of John.

Da Vinci focused on representing the

anxiety and confusion, as he imagined,
would have occurred among the Twelve
Disciples at that specific point, when Jesus
announced that one of them would betray
him.
Pietà (1498
– 1499)
B Y M I C H E LAN G E L O

the body of Jesus on the lap of

his mother Mary after the
Crucifixion.

Michelangelo’s interpretation of the Pietà

was far different from those previously
created by other artists, as he sculpted a
young and beautiful Mary rather than
an older woman.
The Holy
Trinity
(1577 -
1579)
BY EL GRECO
A dramatic and expressionistic depiction of Jesus
Christ ascending into heaven following his Earthly
journey.

El Greco skilfully captures Christ’s

body’s weight by placing the elongated
Christ figure at an awkward angle. El
Greco’s brilliant colors and the emotion
imbued into the faces make this
masterpiece a moving example of
religious art.
T h e Last
Judgement
(1536 -
1541)
B Y M I C H E LAN G E L O
A depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and
the final and eternal judgment by God of all
humanity.

There are over 300 figures, with nearly all the

males and angels originally shown as nudes;
many were later partly covered up by painted
draperies, of which some remain after
recent cleaning and restoration.
The Virgin and
Child with Saint
A nne (150 1 -
1519)
BY LEONARDO DA VINCI

The grandmother of Jesus, her daughter,

the Virgin Mary, and the infant Jesus.

Christ is shown grappling with a sacrificial

lamb symbolizing his Passion. The painting
and its theme had long preoccupied
Leonardo, who took many years to work on
this painting. Leonardo struggled to capture
their relationships and personalities.
The Influence
Of
Catholicism
In The
Filipino Arts
The influence of the Catholic church
on the art form in the Philippines
has been significant for over 500
years.
Built o n the old site o f the S a n Ignacio
C h u r c h and convent, takes care o f
preserved and curated pieces o f
religious art f r o m different parts o f the
country for the public to appreciate.
Fernando Zobel in his 1963 book, Philippine Religious
Imagery, classified the Filipino art pieces of Catholic
tradition into three: popular, classical and ornate.
Popular styled pieces made by unschooled hands are
characterised by native elements like primitive-looking
faces, disproportionate limbs and symbols replaced with
Philippine iconography.
Classical style paintings are more realistic and refined.
Ornate are those with decorative embellishments like
jewelleries, metallic threads of silver or gold and intricate
embroidery. These styles are apparent in both paintings
and sculptures of Catholic art.
 Cat holic priests have been using art as a powerful tool to
spread their message, thro ugh the various fo r m s o f religious
art, such as paintings, sculptures, a n d architecture. T h e
C h u r c h was introduced a nd engraved into the
consciousness o f the catechized people.

Spaniards introduced Western painting, as well as wo o d a n d

ivory carving o f religious figures. Howeve r, the Ch i ne s e, o ur
p r i m a r y trading partner, introduced newer fo r m s o f art to
Filipinos in the 17th century thro ugh talleres (workshops)
initiated by the Spanish friars. T h o u g h there are n o religious
paintings attributed to C h i n e s e artists that have bee n
discovered in recent history. B ut there are influences in
brushstrokes for the facial details that m a y still be seen.
 T h e techniques in painting, sculpture a n d metalwork with
silver evolved thro ugh the centuries, with the m o r e refined
a n d detailed works f o u n d at the latter part o f the 19th
century. T h a n ks to Japanese silversmiths, Filipinos have also
learnt to work with this metal aside f r o m gold.

F r o m attending the workshops b y the Spanish friars to establishing their o w n

schools o f art, the pioneers o f this art f o r m created the artisan culture o f m a n y
Filipino heritage towns. N o t o n ly did their works leave b e h i n d educational a n d
artistic legacy but m o r e importantly, they introduced the Cath olic faith a nd
ingrained it into the Filipinos m i n d . W e were taught about the lives, patronages, a n d
m a r t y rd o m s o f the saints, the canticles o f the Blessed Virgin M a r y a n d her call to
pray the H o l y Rosary a n d wear the brown scapular, a n d the passion, death, a n d
resurrection o f our L o r d Jesus Christ thro ugh symbols. After the Spanish regi me,
C at h o li c i s m re m a i n e d to be o n e o f the n u m e ro u s influences in Philippine art.
T h e s e religious artifacts are a testament to the indelible m a r k
o f the C ath olic faith o n the fo r m a t i o n o f our nation.
Venerated an d adored throughout generations, these
artifacts preserved in various churches are not ordinary
m a n - m a d e gods. Rather, these inspire millions o f people to
look fo r G o d in the darkest a n d m o s t victorious m o m e n t s o f
their lives.
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/christian-art.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_art

https://www.britannica.com/art/Early-Christian-art

https://joyofmuseums.com/most-popular/popular-christian-art/?
fbclid=IwAR1f_fjK1aMu8EZPJjbdm9fhPgpqfknq6LxUod0cpSLs4FTI

References
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https://www.tatlerasia.com/culture/arts/500-years-of-christianity-
in-the-ph-the-influence-of-catholicism-in-the-filipino-arts