Christian art

what is christian art?Christian art is sacred art which uses themes and imagery from Christianity. Most Christian groups use or have used art to some extent, although some have had strong objections to some forms of religious image, and there have been major periods of iconoclasm within Christianity.What is art? I've read and thought about it, but it's still a vague concept. I read a blogspot by Justin Taylor that summarized an essay by Leland Ryken asking if The Scarlet Letter is a "Christian book". Recently, I read The Christian Imagination: Essay on Literature and the Arts. It opened up the idea of art Philosophy. What is art? What is "Christian art" ? How do I create Art ? How do I enjoy art? "What would be your reaction if you’re told to have only one topic in (all) your art" ? For me, if I am given a chance to be the artist and there is only one prospective topic which is Christian art" it's okay, Because if you're an artist it doesn't matter. Even if you have only one topic you still able to make an art.

Can the Bible help us evaluate art? Consider the concepts found in Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and ifanything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Let's concentrate for a few moments on this verse in order to see if it might at least provide the beginning of a framework for the evaluation and enjoyment of art.

Apollo of Veii

 The Apollo of Veii is an over-life-size painted terracotta Etruscan statue of Apollo of ancient Veii and dates from c. 510 - 500 BC. It was created in the so-called "international" Ionic or late-archaic Etruscan style. It was discovered in 1916, and is now on display in the National Etruscan Museum in Rome.

The Apollo of Veii is an over-life-size painted terracotta Etruscan statue of Apollo from Veii of, in the 'international' Ionic or late-archaic Etruscan style. It was discovered in 1916, and is now on show in the National Etruscan Museum.

It was probably made by Vulca, the only Etruscan artist we know by name. It was part of a scene of Apollo and Heracles contending over the Ceryneian Hind, 12 metres above the ground on beams on the acroterion of the Portonaccio Sanctuary of Minerva. Apollo, dressed in a tunic and short cloak advances towards his left with his right arm outstretched and bent (his left arm is towards the ground maybe with a bow in his hand); Heracles, with the doe tied around his legs, is outstretched towards the right, leaning forwards to attack with his bludgeon and with his torso in a violent curve.This is very, very speculative, but I wonder whether the idea of putting terracotta statues on the roof of the temple was inspired by the sculptures added to the pediments of Greek temples (like the temple of Aphaia at Aegina, which is discussed elsewhere on KA). These pediments and their sculptures were originally painted, and I have seen reconstructions in which the background of the pediment was painted in a very bright, sky blue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Aphaea#mediaviewer/File:Aphaia_Western_Pediment.jpg Perhaps this is what gave the Etruscans the idea of simply putting their statues against the sky itself, rather than against a painted background? 

There also is a rather obvious Greek influence on the Apollo statue - like a kouros, it has a striding stance, archaic smile, braided hair and no contrapposto. Unlike a kouros, however, this is a clothed figure... These similarities and differences do seem to support the idea of the Etruscans both adopting and altering Greek sculptural traditions.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain in England, is one of the most recognizable monuments of the Neolithic world and one of the most popular, with over one million visitors a year. People come to see Stonehenge because it is so impossibly big and so impossibly old; some are searching for a connection with a prehistoric past; some come to witness the workings of a massive astrological observatory. The people living in the fourth millennium BC who began work on Stonehenge were contemporary with the first dynasties of Ancient Egypt, and their efforts predate the building of the Pyramids. What they created has endured millennia and still intrigues us today.

in fact, what we see today is the result of at least three phases of construction, although there is still a lot of controversy among archaeologists about exactly how and when these phases occurred. 

 we haven't found out the whole story of Stonehenge, but we know parts of it, like, people found bones under Stonehenge, so it might have been a burial place. it was most likely a place where special occasions, like weddings were held. i have been there, and a couple minutes drive away, there is a place called wood-henge, and its like Stonehenge, but its made out of wood. people think there's a connection between the two, but scientists are still trying to figure it out.