The Art of the Sacred : An Introduction to the Aesthetics of Art and Belief

The field of ‘art and religion’ is fast becoming one of the most dynamic areas of religious studies. Uniquely, “The Art of the Sacred” explores the relationship between religion and the visual arts - and vice versa - within Christianity and other major religious traditions. It identifies and describes the main historical, theological, sociological and aesthetic dimensions of ‘religious’ art, with particular attention to ‘popular’ as well as ‘high’ culture, and within societies of the developing world. It also attempts to locate, and predict, the forms and functions of such art in a changing contemporary context of obligation, modernity, secularism and fundamentalism. The author concentrates on four chief dimensions where religious art and religious belief converge: the iconographic; the didactic; the institutional; and the aesthetic. This clear, well-organised and imaginative treatment of the subject should prove especially attractive to students of religion and visual culture, as well as to artists and art historians. Annotation The field of 'art and religion' is fast becoming one of the most dynamic areas of religious studies. Uniquely, The Art of the Sacred explores the relationship between religion and the visual arts - and vice versa - within Christianity and other major religious traditions. It identifies and describes the main historical, theological, sociological and aesthetic dimensions of 'religious' art, with particular attention to 'popular' as well as 'high' culture, and within societies of the developing world. Special attention is paid not only to major twentieth century masters -Matisse, Rothko and Moore but also to three living artists - Viola, Gormley and Aitchison in the context of post modern spirituality. The book also attempts to locate, and predict, the forms and functions of such art in a changing contemporary context of obligation, modernity, secularism and fundamentalism In 1856 the great Victorian critic John Ruskin asked his readers 'How far has Fine Art, in all or any ages of the world, been conducive to the religious life?' Graham Howes. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [168]-186) And Index.