The Ecumenism of Beauty

by Timothy Verdon (Editor)

Overview

A landmark book on the role of visual arts, beauty and aesthetics in ecumenical exchange.
 
In a visual age, this book shares the belief that beauty and art can bridge differences. Essays from catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant artists, scholars, clergy and theologians explore beauty as a means to unify the body of Christ. The occasion of the Reformation commemoration year offers a time to reflect on the rich artistic heritage shared by all Christians and an opportunity to learn from other traditions.
"The Ecumenism of Beauty is a call to the church to again embrace the arts in service to its liturgy and mission." —Sandra Bowden, Collector, Curator and Past President of Christians in the Visual Arts
Essays include Calvin and the Visual Arts: The Aesthetics of Soli Deo Gloria, The Artist as Contemplative, and Art and the Liturgy.
Contributors to this book include:
Timothy Verdon, Editor — Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Director (Florence, Italy)
William Dyrness — Fuller Theological Seminary, Professor of Theology
Jérôme Cottin — University of Strasbourg, Professor of Practical Theology
Susan S. Kanaga —Mount Tabor Ecumenical Centre for Art & Spirituality, Artist
Philippo Rossi — Florentine Study Centre of Stanford University, Visiting Professor
Martin Shannon — The Community of Jesus, Liturgist and Director of Formation 
The work of contributors Susan S. Kanaga and Filippo Rossi is currently on display at the Grande Museo del Duomo in Florence, Italy. For more information visit artsandecumenism.org.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612619781
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	04/25/2017
Series:	Mount Tabor Books
Sold by:	INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP - EPUB - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Monsignor Timothy Verdon, one of the world's most respected art historians, is the Academic Director of the Mount Tabor Centre in Barga, Italy. He earned his PhD at Yale University and has lived in Italy for the last half century where he also directs the Diocesan Office of Sacred Art and Church Cultural Heritage, the Cathedral Foundation Museum (Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore), and the Centre for Ecumenism of the Archdiocese of Florence.

Table of Contents

Preface Timothy Verdon v

Introduction Timothy Verdon vii

Calvin and the Visual Arts: The Aesthetics of Soli Deo Gloria Jérôme Cottin 1

Opening the Protestant Church to Beauty William Dyrness 13

For Now we See Through a Glass, Darkly Susan Kanaga 23

Fotis Kontoglou and the Struggle for an "Authentic" Ecclesiastical Art in Greece Vasileios Marinis 39

The Artist as Contemplative Filippo Rossi 49

Beauty in and of the Church: The Church of the Transfiguration Martin Shannon 65

Art and the Liturgy Timothy Verdon 85

Artwork and Photography Permissions 117

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Since its formation, God's people have struggled to embrace the rich and comprehensive reality of Christ's Church. It is, therefore, a pleasure to have theologians and artists from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions gather—as they do in this volume—to consider afresh the vital place of images, art, and beauty, not only within the Church, but also beyond her doors as she invites a world that is hungry for meaning and transcendence to feast on God's good gifts." —Cameron J. Anderson Author of The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts and the Executive Director of CIVA| Christians in the Visual Arts.

“This book signals what surely needs to be central to any future engagement of faith and the arts - an ecumenical spirit that can take differences seriously while constantly trying to find ways in which Christians can more fully live into their inheritance in Christ.” —Jeremy Begbie Thomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School, Director of Duke Initiatives in Theology and the ARts

"Jesus calls his followers to be united as one, yet our theological and ecclesial differences often divide us. This brief collection of essays by Christians from a variety of traditions appeals to beauty - in particular, beauty as experienced in and through the arts - as a means to unify the body of Christ. However we might interpret Dostoevsky's words, spoken by Prince Myshkin in The Idiot, that "beauty will save the world," I expect that Christians of all backgrounds will be enriched by these reflections and encouraged to seek unity in Christ." —Rev. Dr. David McNutt guest professor of theology and philosophy, Wheaton College and essayist for International Journal of Systematic Theology, Religion and the Arts and Theology.
 


"The Ecumenism of Beauty is a call to the church to again embrace the arts in service to its liturgy and mission. As so eloquently outlined in this book by theologians, art historians and artists from a wide range of traditions, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation offers us a time for reflection on the vital importance of recovering our rich artistic heritage." —Sandra Bowden artist, collector/curator and past president of Christians in Visual Arts

Editorial Reviews

Impressively informative and inherently thoughtful and thought-provoking, The Ecumenism of Beauty is an extraordinary volume that is very highly recommended for the church, community, and academic library for ecumenical Christian collections, and supplemental studies lists."
—​Midwest Book Review

"Since its formation, God's people have struggled to embrace the rich and comprehensive reality of Christ's Church. It is, therefore, a pleasure to have theologians and artists from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions gather—as they do in this volume—to consider afresh the vital places of images, art, and beauty, not only within the Church, but also beyond her doors as she invites a world that is hungry for meaning and transcendence to feast on God's good gifts." -Cameron J. Anderson, Executive Director of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)

"This  book signals what surely needs to be central to any future engagement of faith and the arts—an ecumenical spirit that can take differences seriously while constantly trying to find ways in which Christians can more fully live into their inheritance in Christ." -Jeremy Begbie, Thomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School

"Jesus calls his followers to be united as one, yet our theological and ecclesial differences often divide us. This brief collection of essays by Christians from a variety of traditions appeals to beauty—in particular, beauty as experienced in and through the arts—as a means to unify the body of Christ. However we might interpret Dostoevsky's words, spoken by Prince Myshkin in The Idiot, that 'beauty will save the world,' I expect that Christians of all backgrounds will be enriched by these reflections and encouraged to seek unity in Christ." -Rev. Dr. David McNutt, Guest Professor of theology and philosophy, Wheaton College

"As a priest as well as a lover of art, Verdon recognizes that prayer and art are natural allies—that spirituality, at heart, is not merely a quest for truth and goodness, but also for authentic beauty as well. This is a truly gorgeous book, filled with full color illustrations, that is as much a feast for the eyes as for the mind." —Carl McColman, patheos.com

"The word 'ecumenism' puts me to sleep: it only conjures up well-intentioned theological commissions and bland inter-faith celebrations. But I still believe in ecumenism. The only place in my life where I’ve experienced it in a vivid, tangible way is through the arts. Art provides something of an open space for encounter—helpful when there are contentious theologies facing one another—because it is concrete rather than abstract. Enter The Ecumenism of Beauty, edited by the revered art historian Timothy Verdon. Each essay, beautifully illustrated with color plates, wrestles with some aspect of the historic Christian tension between art as icon...or idol. The writing here is substantial but not scholarly: in a word, accessible. As we reflect on the Reformation this year, the arts can help us gain a deeper sense of what separates—and unites—the body of Christ." —Gregory Wolfe, Image Journal, Editor


"As this book focuses on the relationship between beauty and ecclesiology as I read I kept thinking of what historical theologians call the Medieval transcendentals: the true, the beautiful and the good. In an earlier time, these were all held in tension, as each reflecting something important about God. Evangelicals of the protestant tradition, my tribe, were suspicious of beauty as ephemeral and idolatrous, but we emphasized truth and goodness (and two out of three ain't bad).  However, we are in the midst of a recovery of Protestant theological aesthetics and religious art. . . I think Rossi and Kanaga's chapters were my favorite contributions, not only because they showcased their beautiful artwork, but because they reflected on their spiritual experience as artists. I give this five stars and recommend it to anyone concerned about art and the church." —James Matichuk, thoughtssongsandprayers.com 


"The role of sacred art from ecumenical perspectives has rarely been attempted with such simplicity and quality. Gorgeous pictures accompany the essays, which feature perceptions on writing icons, art and liturgy, the artist as contemplative, and the role of theological aesthetics in the Protestant experience. A fascinating chapter offers a reappraisal of reformer John Calvin, who is credited with a dour aesthetic sensibility that continues in Protestantism to this day. VERDICT: A breath of fresh air on theological art." –LIBRARY JOURNAL

From the Publisher