Connecting Scripture to artistry | posted by MD
Considering Scripture, of course, from an allegorical perspective, rather than anything literal. From the Book of Luke, Ch 6, verse 45 (King James Version):
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
A further meditation on this appears to come from the French theologian, Jacques Maritain, from chapter seven of his book, Art and Scholasticism:
...[A]rt will be Christian, and will reveal in its beauty the interior reflection of the radiance of grace, only if it overflows from a heart suffused by grace. For the virtue of art which reaches it and rules it directly, presupposes that the appetite is rightly disposed with regard to the beauty of the work. And if the beauty of the work is Christian, it is because the appetite of the artist is rightly disposed with regard to such a beauty, and because in the soul of the artist Christ is present through love. The quality of the work is here the reflection of the love from which it issues, and which moves the virtue of art instrumentally. Thus it is by reason of an intrinsic superelevation that art is Christian, and it is through love that this superelevation takes place.

It follows from this that the work will be Christian in the exact degree in which love is vibrant. Let's make no mistake about it: what is required is the very actuality of love, contemplation in charity. Christian work would have the artist, as man, a saint.

It would have him possessed by love. Let him then make what he wishes.
I particularly like the "...in the exact degree in which love is vibrant" part.
1/16/2007 |  Email This!    Comments & Questions (0)

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