Pagan beauty vs Christian beauty

[HeIsHere]

It doesn't matter.
It's iconography.
It's symbolic, not representational.
What we need to know to understand the image is what does side-saddle mean in the language of the art of the time it was painted.

What the OP is about is the clear difference in the symbology of human kings and the One Divine King. that's the subject, and Art is part of the way that conversation is vocalized. so we need to know how to understand the art that is part of the conversation.

That's all.

inability to truly appreciate European religious art puts you at a disadvantage and I hope I can be of some service to remedy that - we are kin, not enemies.

I was wondering, but you took my statement out of context, just for the record I appreciate all "art" but I may not like all "art."

 

[Niki7]

What does this painting mean?

Does it glorify Christ?
How?

Thanks;
I like it

It means I love horses and like to paint or photograph them in natural settings.

Does it glorify Christ? I always pray before I paint both for inspiration and insight. I think its' working

All of God's creation glorifies Him and speaks to those with eyes to see and ears to hear, of His care and love. He didn't have to make everything He made so beautiful

 

[Niki7]

Why is that? People don't ride horses side saddle. Well, I know women did for a while, but that just seems silly to me.

Well they don't anymore, but back when women basically wore dresses/skirts all the time, they did ride side saddle. But the actual saddle was different from what some might think. They were not riding with both legs on the same side and hoping the steed didn't get it in his/her head to take off.

Horses were the mode of transportation back then. Made good fertilizer too once aged

That is actually a modern photo of an English rider who practices riding side saddle. It's a whole thing...I've never tried it but some people do enjoy it. They even go cross country or fox hunting or jumping...you can find pics of that online if you search.

So while those saddle didn't exist in Jesus' time on earth, I am sure He could have got the little critter to do whatever He wanted.

 

[Niki7]

well although I've never been much of a painter so much as a sculptor & potter, i actually finished my BFA not just majored it in for an unspecified amount of time. and part of earning that was learning about these things, their interpretation, their construction and their history.

IMO the iconoclasm was the tragic result of misunderstanding on both sides: those who stupidly made idols of images and those who stupidly in overreaction thought any image has no purpose or use other than idolatry. they forget that God Himself instructed specifically that the temple be decorated with images of cherubim: thus the interpretation of 'have no graven image' to mean any representation of any living thing is sinful, is a clearly wrong interpretation.

i do not believe we are so stupid in this age, in this community. we are better served not to judge these artworks but to understand them and glean from them what we can see about Christ.

Right. Sculpting is something I wanted to get into and did do a few pieces but there are only 24 hrs in a day. LOTS of theory and history in those courses. I mean, do I really want to create a bust using the lost wax process? I am also too familiar with the different types of columns but I still could get them mixed up

Just to discuss art I have no problem and could probably bore people with it. It is the idolatry I have a problem with...veneration

I like the mention of the temple because when I read about how all the people with artistic inclinations were appointed by God through Moses to do the work I kind of identified. Like feeling useful or something LOL!

Now the muslims have come up with gorgeous and intricate designs in their constructions because of the as you say 'overreaction' to the graven image(s). I really like detail

 

[Eli1]

Hello @Niki7 how are you today?
I have a quick question for you.
Is this the first time in your life that you have joined an online Christian forum?

 

[Niki7]

Hello @Niki7 how are you today?
I have a quick question for you.
Is this the first time in your life that you have joined an online Christian forum?

I have belonged to a few different ones over the years.

 

[Eli1]

Speaking of artwork I enjoy a lot of good artwork in a lot of catholic and east orthodox churches but I also like some Mormon and Latter Day Saints stuff.

For example here’s a favorite one from Carl Broch.
Jesus and the children.


Another favorite is from Akriane Kramarnik



They are both very vivid and life-like.

 

[Eli1]

I also enjoy this depiction of archangel Michael and a depiction of last supper.

 

[SilverFox7]

artists have intentions and artists have degrees of understanding and degrees of skill

all these things are part of judging art, and some of those things involve knowledge of the heart that none of us have, only God - so evaluation of art fundamentally requires grace. let's have & demonstrate grace!!

=]


i suggest taking the most merciful option we have, because, He said 'judge as you yourself would (prefer to be) be judged'

Art explorers that which is beyond scientific understanding. Beautiful intersection of God's characteristics--order in the cosmos yet beauty as well! Hallelujah!

 

[Eli1]

Also not sure who created this one but I like it because it depicts all soldiers of all eras.

 

[posthuman]

The title of the thread could have been "How we expect our leader to look like versus how God chose to present Himself to the world".

Matthew 17:25-26
He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free."


We were strangers, alienated from Him, lost and condemned - but instead of demanding ransom from us, He brought us gifts: instead of making us slaves, He made us sins and daughters!
He did not take our lands and our goods, but gave us His; instead of death by His sword, He gave us life with His word

amen

 

[posthuman]

Also not sure who created this one but I like it because it depicts all soldiers of all eras.

View attachment 250224

Jon McNaughton

 

[Simona1988]

Christ is risen!

Thank you for your replies. I don't have the energy and time to reply to each comment. Especially because I know that my comments would ensue more comments and I don't have time to carefully read them and answer them. Sorry!

@Eli1
I admit I am saddened by the fact you, an eastern orthodox Christian, validate in your heart the Jesus(es) imagined by the Mormons...

 

[Simona1988]

hi, Simona! you make me smile, partly because i imagine, based on your screen name, that you're the same age as our 4th born; our only son.

May God bless your family and give you joy!

can i please address just this thought? i don't believe they're the same people. i know this is a common thought in Christendom, so allow me to explain my thinking.

the people singing Hosanna to the Son of David were likely pilgrims who, by covenant obligation, were making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. they would have been singing the Songs of Ascent from the Psalter. one of them would have been Ps 118, where we find these words:

O LORD, save us, we pray. (Hosanna! save now!)
We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
The LORD is God;
He has made His light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.

i get chills thinking the Lord Jesus heard those last words i quoted as He rode into Jerusalem!

but i believe not that the people were fickle, but that it's two different groups. perhaps the second group were Jerusalemites, i don't know. the Lord knows those who are His, though.

thanks for your patience.

I think you are right about not being the same people.

I leave you with this short video of Jesus entering in Jerusalem. It will make you smile again.

 

[Eli1]

Christ is risen!

Thank you for your replies. I don't have the energy and time to reply to each comment. Especially because I know that my comments would ensue more comments and I don't have time to carefully read them and answer them. Sorry!

@Eli1
I admit I am saddened by the fact you, an eastern orthodox Christian, validate in your heart the Jesus(es) imagined by the Mormons...

Indeed he’s risen!

Simona, don’t be like a Protestant who become sad when others are happy.
I don’t know what your church is teaching you but in my church we welcome everyone because God is not found in one specific channel or frequency or interpretation, but He’s found everywhere.
God bless you and I hope you’re more active here.

 

[Simona1988]

I don’t know what your church is teaching you but in my church we welcome everyone because God is not found in one specific channel or frequency or interpretation, but He’s found everywhere.

We welcome everyone too. It's their mental idols we don't welcome.

God bless you and I hope you’re more active here.

God bless you too! I try to spend less time online.