Religion and art have always been closely interlinked. Religious stories and ideas provided not only the creative inspiration for creating art but also provided modes of understanding the world. Historically, art has been dominated by the theme of religion. While each culture and time period presents their own different version of religion in their artworks there are also many similarities that run through these different historical periods. Religious expression through the medium of art remains one of the most significant art practices throughout history. Religious art offers the audiences a glimpse into the ritualistic traditions and practices towards self-realization or unity, within the religious fundamentals of the artist who created it. This article will identify, examine, and discuss the strong connection between religion and art, with the help of religious artworks selected from a number of different periods, traditions, and religions. Different religious traditions are expressed in a variety of different ways through the respective artists of that religion. Moreover, different artistic styles and practices in different art periods have also led to different representations of the same religious ideologies.

Religious expression through art is a practice as old as time, historians and archeologists have uncovered numerous artworks, in the form of paintings, artifacts, architecture, etc. that provide some form of religious expression. For instance, the artwork: Ceremonial Ax in the form of a were-jaguar, Olmec, from La Venta, Mexico, ca. 900–400 BCE. Jadeite, 11 – 2 high. British Museum, London. (Early Mesoamerican), is a ceremonial axe made from stone during the early Mesoamerican period. The interesting aspect of this particular axe is that it is made in the form of were-jaguar, which was an important religious motif and a supernatural deity for the Olmec civilization (Kleiner). The unique design details and stylistic elements that make the ceremonial axe a piece of religious art are the classic were-jaguar figure with almond eyes, mouth open downwards, and cleft in the head. Therefore, like in various other cultures, the Olmec civilization expressed the supernatural in their art through the combinations of humans and other species. The following artwork: King, from Ita Yemoo (Ife), Nigeria, 11th to 12th century. Zinc-brass, 1 6 1 – 2 high. Museum of Ife Antiquities, Ife. [Early African Art], is similar to the ceremonial axe in the sense that the religious deity is presented in the form of an artifact, in this case made out of Zinc. However, due to the different religious traditions and art periods, there are important differences between the two artworks (Kleiner). For instance, there is much greater attention to detail in King, from Ita Yemoo (Ife), as the artist carefully crafted the human figure with unique wardrobes and ceremonial body language.

Christian art is very different in style and representation from Mesoamerican and African religious artwork. Moreover, through the ages, there have been variations in the representation of Christian art itself even though they are all related to the religion of Christianity. In Byzantine religious art, for instance, the element of light is of great significance. It focuses on light through objects that illuminate such as candles and torches, the church’s architectures use more windows to let light in, and the color gold remains important as it symbolizes divine light. The Anastasis, apse fresco in the parekklesion of the Church of Christ in Chora (now the Kariye Museum), Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, ca. 1310–1320. [Late Byzantine Art]. Shows Christ surrounded by a white, bright light. This light seems to emanate from him to the apostles and disciples who are on the left and right of him. However, when we take a look at Bernardus Gelduinus, Christ in Majesty, relief in the ambulatory of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France, ca. 1096. Marble, 4 2 high. [Romanesque Art] We find it very different from the representation of Christ in Byzantine art. This particular relief is made in a more archaic style. The pose of Christ and other elements of the relief have hints of Buddhist artwork. The Gothic period once again focused on light as the tone of its main elements but it also incorporated the ideas of height and the Virgin Mary. The Gothic churches are very high. The walls are thin and flying buttresses are used to give elevation and support while at the same time allowing for more space for the windows. The dissolving walls of the Interior of the upper chapel (looking northeast), Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France, 1243–1248 shows great architectural and stained glass painting craftsmanship. The resulting effect is awe-inspiring. While in Byzantine art Christ remains the religious figure of significance Gothic art focused more on the figure of the Virgin Mary.

Islamic art is another artistic tradition that represents its own ideologies and culture in the artworks. Islamic art is mainly aniconic. Instead, Islamic architecture and artworks are decorated with geometric designs, fractals, tilework, and calligraphic designs. Since the text of the Islamic holy book, Quran, is considered to be highly sacred one can see so many variations and stylistic interpretations of the calligraphic artworks. The Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, ca. 1354. (Later Islamic Art) shows the detailed tilework within Islamic art. Whereas the Muqarnas dome, Hall of the Abencerrajes, Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain, 1354–1391. [Islamic Art] displays the majestic fractals and the beautiful calligraphy work. Islamic art may be different in its selection of images that adorn the artworks yet it is similar in the idea that the designs and structures are aimed at inspiring awe and creating a union between the human and the divine.

To sum up, all the artworks and the artistic traditions that they belong to are distinct from each other. Yet they are all connected by a common thread of religion. Each culture and religious tradition uses its own way to convey its divine message and to create beautiful artworks that become a source of reflection on the divine. For example, the Mesoamerican axe of the were-jaguar incorporates divine power within the human form that is represented in the facial features. However, the divine in Christianity is represented through the human figure of Christ or Mary using light or other effects to relay their divinity. The Islamic tradition uses no figures and instead relies on the power of the sacred text and the geometric complexities to represent that which is divine.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Cengage Learning, 2011.