Religion in 16th- and 17th-Century European Art

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Religious Context
Historical Events
Patrons’ Influence
Visual Elements
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The history of humanity can be seen in the development of art. It is a unique phenomenon helping individuals to show their feelings, emotions, and ideas important at a particular time. For this reason, every epoch has its specific style, dominant themes, and approaches to creating various art forms. Painting is one of the forms of art that has always been topical and important for society. Numerous artworks reflect the evolution of human thought and the rise and decline of various concepts. Thus, religion can be viewed as another fundamental aspect of the life of human beings. However, in the past centuries, the Church was the fundamental institution impacting all spheres of social life. For this reason, many past masterpieces were created under the impact of religion, and their understanding requires knowledge of the context.

Religious Context

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling is one of the outstanding artworks of the past created under the impact of the Church. It was created between 1508 and 1512 when the power of religion was almost unlimited (Campbell, 2021). For this reason, this masterpiece was ordered to emphasize it and inspire ordinary people. Isenheim Altarpiece, created by Grunewald, has a similar religious context as it was created in the same period. It was ordered by the Antonine monks who cared for plague sufferers; for this reason, the image of Jesus was covered with sores (Campbell, 2021). Thus, Durer’s Four Apostles has another religious context as they reflect the ideas of Reformation and their importance for Germany (Campbell, 2021). The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio is another masterpiece inspired by religious motifs. The shift to a realistic manner represents the change in the understanding of God and its role (Kleiner, 2021). Finally, the Elevation of the Cross by Rubes conveys the ideas of Christ’s sacrifice and shit to baroque traditions. In such a way, all these works were inspired by religion and the dominant role Church played in European society.

Analyzing every painting, it is possible to admit the apparent signs of the religious context. First, all discussed artworks revolve around religious motifs or depict scenes from the Bible. Sistine Chapel Ceiling introduces scenes from the Book of Genesis, which are important for all believers (Kleiner, 2021). Isenheim Altarpiece creates the image of the crucified Crist with plague-type sores, which also helps to understand the context and significance of the problem at that period (Kleiner, 2019). Durer’s painting depicts the apostles that can be recognized by their symbols, such as the open book of St. John the Evangelist, the keys of St. Peter, a scroll of St. Mark, and the sword and closed book of St. Paul (Kleiner, 2021). These symbols are critical for Christianity and make the religious context apparent. The other two works also focus on central events in religion, such as the crucifixion of Christ and Matthew’s life. In such a way, the religious context is apparent at first glance and can be realized by individuals who are not familiar with the peculiarities of the epoch.

Historical Events

Moreover, every painting has its unique historical context that can be linked to its creation. For instance, Sistine Chapel was the place where the College of Cardinals gathered and elected a new pope. It was a holy place for Christianity, meaning there was a need for unique artwork decorating it. In such a way, Michelangelo was ordered to create a painting that later became a masterpiece. Isenheim Altarpiece also reflects specific events in the history of humanity when the plague was one of the main threats to people’s lives (Kleiner, 2021). The artwork depicts Jesus with the signs of the disease, showing God’s compassion and understanding of people’s pain (Kleiner, 2019). At the same time, Durer’s painting was created when the Reformation started, which shows how the historic context impacted the artist. In such a way, every discussed masterpiece can be understood regarding the context and the period when it was created. It helps to understand the central message and the themes discussed by the creator.

Patrons’ Influence

At the same time, some artists might work under the strong influence of their patrons. For instance, Michelangelo’s artwork was created at the commission of Pope Julius II. He played the central role in selecting the artist for the final image. The Pope wanted to emphasize his power and the unique place of the Church in the functioning of the state (King, 2014). At the same time, Michelangelo had a previous conflict with Julius II, meaning it was essential to create the artwork to find common ground and prove the artist’s talent (King, 2014). For this reason, the creation of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling in short terms is often linked to the power of Michelangelo’s patron at that period and the Pope’s influence (King, 2014). The example shows that various outstanding paintings emerged as the result of the cooperation between artists and individuals or groups that required a piece of art for various purposes. This interaction provided the artist with a stimulus for creativity and the resources needed to create a masterpiece appreciated by individuals globally.

Visual Elements

Finally, for the contemporary audience, all discussed artworks have specific stylistic and visual characteristics that might help the contemporary audience to understand their context and meaning. First, the masterpieces have the elements of the high Renaissance, such as linear perspective, symmetrical and compositional perfection, and attention to human figures and faces (Campbell, 2021). At the same time, the traditional approach to depicting saints and God is followed. The artwork of Caravaggio shows the shift to baroque art, including such aspects as the focus on movement, tension, emotion, and darker shades (Campbell, 2021). On the other hand, the themes from the Bible, saints, or Jesus are always in the middle of the composition, playing an essential role in understanding the authors’ ideas and their central messages. In such a way, the discussed paintings can be recognized by an unskilled viewer and related to the period characterized by the increased power of the Church, its dominance in society, and people’s focus on religious issues and ideas.

Conclusion

Altogether, art is a unique phenomenon that helps to reflect the peculiarities of a specific period. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling, the Isenheim Altarpiece, the Four Apostles, The Calling of Saint Matthew, and the Elevation of the Cross are devoted to the critical themes in Christianity. They reflect a specific religious context, such as the rise of the Church and its importance for every person’s life. At the same time, they reflect the historical peculiarities, such as the start of the Reformation or the construction of the Sistine Chapel. All discussed paintings have common visual elements that help to understand the era when they were created. A contemporary viewer can notice religious motifs and understand the moods and factors that affected artists when the works were created. At the same time, they can inspire people and make them think about issues from the past.

References

Campbell, G. (2021). The Oxford illustrated history of the Renaissance. Oxford University Press.

King, R. (2014). Michelangelo and the Pope’s ceiling. Bloomsbury USA.

Kleiner, F. (2019). Gardner’s art through the ages: A global history (16^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Kleiner, F. (2021). Gardner’s art through the ages: The Western perspective, volume II (16^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

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