Influencers

Art lives in the world.  Most of the time, society influences art.  Once in a while, someone has eyes that see, and ears to hear, and creates something that will influence society.     

The Code of Hammurabi is the first artwork that I can remember.  This was the first complete legal code written on a sculpture.  Hammurabi lived 1792-1750 BC. 

                                                                                 I also think of Guernica by Pablo Picasso.  This was an anti-war protest painting that vividly depicted the horror of war during the Franco and Nazi era.

There is also the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  Many believe that this story laid the groundwork for the American Civil War.

Recently, I was reading about the Albigensian and Cathar heresies.  They believed that mankind was basically bad.  Dominicans preached against this heresy.  All that God created is good.  Dominicans preached with words.  St. Francis wrote a poem and sang.  His way of preaching influenced more people.  Maybe, it was both ways.  Some people are influenced by speeches, sermons, and arguments.  Others by art.

Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi

 Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings. 

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night, and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

A Ukrainian Prayer, John Rutter

This is a response to violence, to war, to evil, and to death.  Art answers.

The Best Contemplation

An interesting definition, if not description,  of contemplation, is found in The Secular Journal of Thomas Merton, Farrar, Straus, & Cudahy, New York, 1959.

Merton is looking at the picture above.  This is Fra Angelico's "Temptation of St. Anthony."  This subject, St. Anthony of the Desert's temptation is a common theme, among artists, probably because it's so open to each person's interpretation of "temptation."  In Fra Angelico's, it's the world.  That's a lump of gold, in the lower right side.  I tend to think the temptation was everything (like all of us). However, since he was a consecrated hermit, the temptation was probably theological doubt.

When Merton looks at St. Anthony he notes the background.  The saint is in the middle of dry gullies, yet in the background are trees.  He's in a desert, yet we see a city.  Are you getting the idea?  Anyway, St. Anthony is surprised, look at the way his cape is draped.  His arms are in the "infant startle position."

In the back is a church on a hill.  (Go Anthony, go!)

"Just as prayer leads to stillness, and timelessness in contemplation, so the action of this picture leads to contemplation on an esthetic level.  Therefore looking at a picture demands penetration, understanding, meditation.  If people looked at good pictures more, they would learn more about meditation, and if they meditated more they would learn more about looking at pictures."

Merton goes on about that startle movement of St. Anthony's.  "By realizing what constitutes the action in a good picture, we can get some sort of analogical grasp of what the joys of the blessed are in heaven."  That's because of the joy we receive by looking at good art, listening to good music, reading good books, enjoying the company of good friends, and contemplating the good God.