Catholicism and Religious Art

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Christian Art has always been an essential dimension of the Roman Catholic tradition, faith and worship; this includes visual art (iconography), sculpture, decorative arts, music, applied arts and architecture. This class introduces students to the history and the development of early Christian Art since the period of catacombs, analysing the importance of the proclamation of religious toleration with the Edict of Milan in the Roman Empire that contributed significantly to the emergence and development of Christian Art. This course explores and interprets Christian Art from a theological perspective, examining the Catholic Doctrine on sacred images and religious art, focusing in particular on the decisions of the 2nd Council of Nicaea, the Council of Trent and the Second Vatican Council, showing that Christian Art is as important to the Catholic tradition as textual sources. Students will be introduced to primary sources - including sermons, Church documents, works of art, field trips and films - as well as secondary sources by historians that are important for their understanding of Christian Art. The rich resources found in London make this course an exciting and vibrant exploration of primary material.