Religious Effect on Art Practices and Styles
Introduction
Most of the time, art is involved in ceremonies and other religious practices. Much of the art related to religion applies symbolic images that pertain to the perceptions (Lahelma, 2018). Practices of arts was highly influenced by the religious environment positively and negatively.
Effect of the religious environment
The brief high renaissance of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci changed catholic art, basically breaking with ancient iconography that was unified with religious conventions for the composition that reflected renaissance humanism influence and the artistic imperatives (Taliaferro, 2015). Most of the pictures in the 15th century was religious. The church commissioned the artwork for some reason. The first reason was indoctrination, pure images relayed meaning to the illiterate people. The other purpose was to make it easy to recall saints’ depictions and other figures they came into contact with during life activities. The church also commissioned artwork to motivate the viewer’s heart since it was an easy way to do with the image in comparison with the words. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The cultural rebirth which occurred at the beginning of the 15th century affected most parts of the society. Turning from Romanesque and Gothic periods, the artists (Florentine) spurred glories rejuvenation of the classical art in reflection with the more individualistic and humanistic emerging modern era (Acosta, 2016). Based on the new flourishing environment that influenced people to develop themselves in humanities, the artists created work strengthened by theology, philosophy, and design — the new religion which evolved beyond the stories of traditional religion dominated art. The art practices were no longer means to raise devotional solely, but a means to document events and people of the modern era.
The religious environment also negatively affected the art practices since destruction took place to some extent. Views of many religious people like Zwingli and Calvin and other people perceived images like idolatry, and in this area, arts were destroyed. The destructive process took place until the mid-17th century. The destruction was carried out in different ways in various places. For example, in England, religious art destruction was intense and heavy. (Taliaferro, 2015)The religious war made some artists find an escape to Italy parts, and practicing their career was somehow difficult for them.
The renaissance art to realism was driven by humanism notion, which is the foundation for various achievements (Acosta, 2016). Even though the humanism downplayed the religion, the religion relationship with the worth and dignity of people played a big part in affecting the art practices. In visual arts, humanism played a significant role in influencing art practices in three ways. The humanism notion stood for the individual figure emergence in symbolic and stereotyped figures (Lahelma, 2018). The idea also held for the consequent and greater realism to detail as linear perspective development and developing the human faces bodies and authenticity. The new approach assists in explaining the reason behind covering classical sculpture and the reason Byzantine art expired.
In various parts of Europe, early renaissance art was built with Late Medieval art. The Renaissance painting, art, architecture, and sculpture made during the 14th century to 15 centuries under the composed influence of increased cautions of classical learning revival, nature, and individualistic view of a human being (Acosta, 2016). The humanistic learning, nature interest, and individualism was present in 15th to 16the century alongside economic and social changes like secularization in day to day activities. The religion presence made people aware of the various benefits offered by the arts. Religion influence affected the literature, philosophy, architecture, government, and science. For example, some governments become aware of the benefits which arts can bring to the economy by attracting tourists.
Conclusion
Art is symbolic, and to many people, it got the various meaning. Religion use art in different places to represent a way of worship or to symbolize other things. In modern society, creativity depends on society and culture and what people perceive. There are people with negative perceptions different who have a positive attitude based on their background.