Hymn About the Transcendant and Transformative Art of Building

God makes himself known to us in unlike ways at dissimilar times. He asks us to seek him always, no matter what the circumstances are. As the One who Is Goodness, Truth, and Dazzler itself, God speaks to united states of america through the good, the true, and the beautiful in this world. Fabricated in His epitome and likeness, he has given usa the adequacy to raise our thoughts to him through the good, true, and beautiful and the capability to participate in the cosmos of adept, true, and beautiful things. This is especially apparent in the arts, where we're able to imitate Him in composing a musical score or vocal, writing a book, jotting a verse form, performing a play, or creating a piece of art that speaks to the human feel and expresses something greater than itself. Art transcends itself. It points to something else. Information technology tin, and ofttimes does, expresses what is good, truthful, and beautiful.

In these strange and uncertain times, it is especially important to await beyond ourselves. Though we might have to stay in concrete isolation, it is best to non withdraw inwards in fear and anxiety. We must remember that God is sovereign. He is in control, and we are not, and we ought to cast our fears, doubts, and anxieties at His feet. We need to try and open ourselves to transcendence – to open ourselves to those things beyond the new normal of social isolation. Many people are finding hidden graces in their new normal, which is a great souvenir. It is besides good to find new or recollect old ways of transcending the situation at mitt in those darker moments of fear. One great way of seeking God'due south presence is in seeking the expert, true, and cute in art. Beneath I will share with you five of my favorite pieces of art that draw me out of myself and depict my eyes and heart heavenward.

The Announcement,John William Waterhouse

Any painting of the Annunciation to Mary draws me out of myself. I ponder what's going through Mary's mind? How did the artist translate her body linguistic communication? How did the artist return the angel? In this beautiful, colorful rendition by Waterhouse, Mary appears outside her firm, on the edge of a garden. Next to her is a book stand up with scrolls on it – presumably the Torah. She is shown here every bit a young adult female, but not a girl. With one hand on her heart and the other on her head, she demonstrates both shock and besides an awareness of the greatness of her visitor. Both caput and heart seek to understand what the angel is saying to her. She lifts her listen and heart to God and courageously says "May it be washed to me." The affections, not an overwhelming gilded display as in other paintings, wears royal imperial. The white flowers in Gabriel's mitt are simultaneously representative of Mary'south virginity and of the Holy Spirit who is well-nigh to come upon her. I love that yous can really see the eye contact between Mary and Gabriel in this painting. The positioning of the bodies might even exist a reversal of Eve cast out of the garden with the affections guarding Eden with a sword of fire. Gabriel invites Mary into the garden, offering her the flowers. Mary is startled, merely totally engaged, and set up to say yes. May we say yep to whatever God has in store for us during this foreign time, and may He provide fruits from our sufferings.

The Presentation in the Temple, Rembrandt

The chiaroscuro (stiff contrast of light and dark) happening in this painting of the Presentation immediately draws me in. Where is the calorie-free coming from? Why is the residue dark in comparing? This is a rendition of Mary and Joseph actualization in the Temple to nowadays the baby Jesus. The main figures are pocket-sized in comparing to the vastness of the Temple, and describe you in even more so you can written report them. Mary and Joseph kneel before the Temple priest, whose confront you lot cannot see. But the light comes from behind and above him – and shines on Simeon and the Christ child, whom Simeon has taken into his arms. This is the moment of recognition – this is the Messiah! Simeon has faithfully waited and longed for this moment and the light has come upon him. May we faithfully pray and discern God's will for us, no matter what circumstances he may depict us into.

The Elder Sister, William-Adolphe Bouguereau

This is i of my favorite paintings of all time by one of my favorite painters of all fourth dimension. Bouguereau made incredibly beautiful, detailed, life-similar pieces of art. His portrayals of Mary and the babe Christ are some of my favorites. Simply this painting of peasant children makes me cease and stare. The sister looks out and engages the eyes of the viewer. The details are exquisite and intensely realistic. You can see individual strands of her flaxen hair, and piddling tufts of curls on the baby'southward caput. She's comfy and at ease, just taking a intermission with her little brother. In the background, y'all tin see a swimming and a cottage. Is that their cottage? Exercise they live there? Did the appreciating elder sister take the baby out for a romp in the afternoon to go him out of their mama'south manner? It is a repose country afternoon, and makes me want to get explore the state lanes of France. May her ease and affectionate care of her babe brother remind united states of america that we are tenderly cared for by Christ and his angels and saints.

Sketching the Ruins of Tintern Abbey, Samuel Colman

I read "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey" by William Wordsworth in loftier school and was totally captivated by the countryside described. I looked into the ruins of Tintern Abbey and found this painting by Colman which captivated me on another level. In this scene, a political party is collected near the ruins of the abbey, supposedly for sketching it. Slight light comes from the background, just the sky is cloudy and the ruins are dominated by night green overgrowth. It is hauntingly beautiful, both distressing and slightly hopeful. People are clearly appreciating the dazzler of the gothic architecture, merely do they remember that this once was a great Cistercian abbey? Practise they remember the hundreds, thousands of monks who worked and prayed here, who dedicated their lives to God here? What happened to the monks who lived here during the Dissolution of the Monasteries nether Henry Viii? Did any of them resist? Were whatsoever of them put to expiry for their adherence to the Catholic faith? Yet there is promise – people practice desire to remember and preserve the abbey, and they walk the grounds that were dedicated to the glory of God. They cannot fail to at least faintly think of Him. May we remember, also, that even when things expect bleak and dark, at that place is always a ray promise in God'due south promise of love.

(Editor's note: Unfortunately, no public domain image is available to include on this blog mail service, but a quick Google search will yield an image of the painting referenced above.)

The Eucharist, January van Kessel the Elderberry

Christ in the Eucharist is obviously the centerpiece of this gorgeous painting. The Host, on which you lot tin can but see the outline of Christ crucified appears to hover over the chalice. It is non held aloft past a monstrance, but floats alone. It is well-nigh as if Christ's eyes are dull into your own as you lot gaze at it. The chalice is exquisitely and delicately detailed, even down to the glimmer of the gilded rim. The candles burn, but pale in contrast to the glow of the Eucharist. The altar is busy with beautiful, bright flowers, grapes, and wheat – all symbolic of the Eucharist, but too of Christ'southward fruitfulness. When nosotros worthily receive the Eucharist, Christ'due south love bears fruit in our hearts. In this time when very few are able to participate in the Mass, may your devotion to the Eucharist never waver. May you brand spiritual communion worthily and well, and long for the day when we are able to gather together over again to celebrate the liturgy.

May yous seek God's presence in the proficient, the true, and the beautiful during this time and always. He is present, and He oft waits for us to seek him. Whether it is in beautiful artwork, in inspiring books, in a masterful film, a powerful vocal, or in the daily tasks of your everyday life, may your days ahead exist filled with that which is good, true, and beautiful.

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Source: https://www.coraevans.com/blog/article/transcendent-art-seeking-the-good-the-true-and-the-beautiful-in-a-time-of-isolation-and-uncertainty

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