Final Project

Introduction

As someone who was raised in a secular, atheist family, I have always somewhat distanced myself from religious ideas and culture in general. I’ve been generally discouraged from engaging with religion and its more harmful ideologies. However, as of late, I have found myself fascinated by the reach that religion has through culture and arts, such as music and artwork.

Religion has been a significant pillar in the lives of many people, and while there are certainly detrimental things that accompany them, these philosophies have also been a great deal of help for some people. They have helped people through times of hardship, such as identity crises and poverty. Some have proven tremendously charitable and benevolent in theory and execution.

The same could also be said for art, with much greater outreach and receptiveness. So the expansion of art to include religious figures, scenes, etc. is not the slightest bit surprising. It fact, it all but guarantees that some people will be intrigued and may even begin to follow a religion after being introduced to it through their cultural output.

In this virtual exhibition, I will be exploring how certain pieces have honored figures of different religions and, in some cases, how that enhanced the intrigue around said religions and increased membership and engagement.

 

Piece 1: Priest-king of Uruk

Title: Priest-king of Uruk

Artist/Place of Origin: Uruk Period

Date: 3300 BC

Material(s): Limestone

Dimensions: 30.5 cm by 10.4 cm by 7 cm

Current Location: Louvre Museum

Uruk heralded their kings not just as royalty, but as shepherds and priests (the most dominant theories state that it was ruled by priests alone before the monarchy was established). This piece of art is believed to represent one of their so-called “priest-kings”, an iconic mark of this substantial historical era. Not much is known about this piece, as this was crafted at the beginning of history, but most debate lies around the hat or headband and what it represents. Notably, many of the other pieces crafted to represent Uruk “priest-kings” were also clad in this odd headwear for thus far indefinite reasons. The most prevalent theory is that it is a shepherd’s hat – a physical depiction of a king’s royal and priestly duties to their people.

This debate highlights the high regard for spiritual figures such as priests and shepherds; they were so respected among their fellow Sumerians, they were akin to royalty and in some cases, did eventually become royalty. The similarity of their duties could also be made. Both priests and kings must attend to the needs of those who rely on them, whether to maintain their faith or quality of life.

 

Piece 2: The Last Supper

Title: The Last Supper

Artist/Place of Origin: Leonardo da Vinci

Date: 1495-1498

Material(s): Oil paint

Dimensions: 460 cm by 880 cm

Current Location: convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan

Probably the most renowned and reproduced pieces in this exhibition (and in the art world) is “The Last Supper”, a painting by Leonardo. It depicts the meal that Jesus shared with his apostles before he was captured and crucified, as is written in 1 Corinthians.

In this piece, Leonardo captures the exact moment that Jesus reveals that he will be betrayed by one of his companions, with the surprised and outraged reactions of his disciples forever captured in this iconic work.

The fame that accompanies this painting has no doubt fascinated people about this story it depicts, as it has been highly admired and reproduced many times over the centuries. This scene has also been depicted by artists such as Andrea del Castagno.

 

Piece 3: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Title: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee 

Artist/Place of Origin: Rembrandt van Rijn

Date: 1633

Material(s): Oil paint

Dimensions: 160 cm by 128 cm

Current Location: Unknown since 1990

Another well-known piece (but similarly to the Mona Lisa, its theft definitely contributed to its fame), “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, an oil-on-canvas painting by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1633. It portrays another reference to the Christian Bible, where Jesus and his apostles struggle to keep their fishing boat afloat as an intense and powerful storm threatens to sink their boat.

It is a moving, dynamic, and dramatic image that has inspired many, and its infamous theft (the biggest in American history, in fact) in 1990 and the intrigue around its ambiguous circumstances. The depictions of each disciple are just as immersive as Leonardo’s “The Last Supper”, with expressions varied from frightened, to ill, to despairing. Jesus also retains his calm composure he displays in other works, something that both inspires and amuses its viewers.

 

Piece 4: Bergama Prayer Rug

Title: Bergama Prayer Rug

Artist/Place of Origin: Turkey

Date: Late 19th century

Material(s): Wool

Current Location: Huntington Museum of Art

Or course, paintings are not the only form of religious expression through artwork. The pile carpet, more commonly known as the Oriental carpet or Oriental rug, is utilized by many religions, including Muslims and sects of Christianity, to enrich living spaces and enhance religious engagement (mainly for prayer). They are popular, especially in Europe, for their style, but their religious significance is undeniable.

This particular piece was crafted to be used as a prayer rug for Muslims, where they are given a clean space to pray. The manner in which it is designed portrays the direction one is supposed to face during a prayer.

Piece 5: The Boy Buddha Rising Up from Lotus

Title: The Boy Buddha Rising Up Lotus

Artist/Place of Origin: Vietnam

Date: 14th-15th century

Material(s): Crimson and gilded wood

 Similarly to Christianity (the religion I am admittedly the most familiar with), there are many different sects of Buddhism that people practice across the world, primary in Asia. Vietnam held in particularity high regard, as the country’s early leaders and dynasties practiced Buddhism.

Chinese Buddhism was a significant influence on its Vietnamese counterpart, both in practice and in artistic expression, and this piece is certainly no exception. Gautama Buddha’s made lotus flowers appear with each of his first steps, and is generally believed to represent purity, enlightenment, and rebirth. It is Vietnam’s national flower, and there, it portrays an analogy for the human condition: beauty can come from the darkest, muddiest places. So it’s no wonder so many of Vietnamese Buddhist artwork depicts the Buddha emerging from or existing in the proximity of a lotus flower. This distinctive and beautiful depiction of innocence has inspired viewers and artists alike.

Piece 6: Baptistère de Saint Louis

Title: Baptistère de Saint Louis

Artist/Place of Origin: Muhammad ibn al-Zayn

Date: 1320-1340

Material(s): Brass, gold, and silver

Dimensions: 50.2 cm by 22.2 cm

Current Location: Louvre Mueusm

 Unlike the European counterpart, which was generally characterized by bright colors and enamel décor, Islamic metalwork from the Medieval era is characterized by metallic shades of bronze, steel, gold, among others inlaid into complex designs, from animal figures to detailed scenes on gold rings and food bowls. The designs were often highly detailed, if simple in nature.

“Baptistère de Saint Louis”, hammered and engraved by Muhammad ibn al-Zayn, is one of the most famous pieces from this era. The exact intentions of the hunter imagery shown here are not known and heavily debated as to whether it is religious or blatantly historical in nature (as Islamic art in general difficult to pinpoint to a specific period).

The debate around this piece has sparked some interest, similar to the Priest-king of Uruk piece.

Works Cited

Bassin Dit, “baptistère de Saint Louis”. Vers  -1340 1320. Laiton martelé, décor incrusté d’or, d’argent et de pâte noire, H. 22 cm ; D. ouverture 50,2 cm. Louvre. https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/bassin-dit-baptistere-de-saint-louis.

Bishop Brian J Kennedy, OSB. "Importance of the Prayer Rug". St. Finian Orthodox Abbey. https://www.stfinian.com/importance-of-the-prayer-rug-in-the-celtic-orthodox-church

“Buddhism in Vietnam,” in Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia. http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Buddhism_in_Vietnam

Dr. Senta German, "Sumer, an introduction," in Smarthistory, June 8, 2018, accessed September 3, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/sumerian-art-an-introduction/.

Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris, "Leonardo, Last Supper," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed December 9, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/leonardo-last-supper/.

Guy Darst; Ulrich Boser (February 20, 2009). "Vanishing Point: As the World's Biggest Unsolved Art Theft Fades From View, a Fresh Look". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123509228766328681

The kings of uruk, the original shepherd kings. (n.d.). Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://sumerianshakespeare.com/70701/507901.html

Lee, Soyoung. “Religious Influence on Korean Art.” Asia Society. Accessed December 8, 2020. https://asiasociety.org/education/religious-influence-korean-art.

Martin, Claudia. “The Intimate Relationship between Art and Religion.” The Torch Magazine, 2014. http://www.ncsociology.org/torchmagazine/v873/martin.html.

Martinique, Elena. “Defining Secular Art or A Different Kind of a Religious Experience,” December 5, 2016. https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/secular-art  

The National Gallery, London. “Art and Religion.” The National Gallery. Accessed December 8, 2020. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/research/about-research/art-and-religion/art-and-religion.

Work Statuette of a priest-king. (n.d.). Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/statuette-priest-king

World Religions in Art. Accessed December 8, 2020. http://archive.artsmia.org/world-religions/christianity/index.html.