Unit 1 Art History Essay

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The ability to create art is said to be one of the traits that differentiate humans from animals Many people including Martin Luther the founder of Lutheranism claim that art is a gift from God. There are many different forms and categories of art, ranging from tangible sculptures to intangible music. Art is a very important part of our history. Different forms of art correlate to the time period they were developed during, most evidently with music. This is because art is heavily influenced by the society in which the art was made, such as the sculptures depicting the gods in ancient Egypt, or the statues in Greece that depict Mount Olympus. There are many other examples of art being used to depict the gods of ancient civilizations, because

It was also during the Renaissance that well renowned Christian artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael Sanzio emerged within sixteenth century Italy and began to depict figures such as Jesus and Mary (Smart, 329). These famous works of art include the painting of The Last Supper, The Sistine Chapel ceiling, and Raphael’s Resurrection of Christ. This depiction of figure is what sets Christianity apart from the other two monotheistic religions. The representation of Jesus, Mary, and other saints also takes form as ikons. According to Fisher and Rinehart, “Ikons are stylized paintings that are created by artists who prepare their work by prayer and make no attempt at earthly realism, for ikons are representations of the reality of the divine world” (Fisher and Rinehart, 342). The depiction of Jesus and other figures from the bible allows for Christians to form a connection and have a better understanding of these divine character. Christianity’s liberal view on art allowed for art to flourish during the Renaissance period. This caused the integration of art in all aspects of the religion, and allows art to serve as a connection between its members and the