LS1: What is Religious Art? Lesson Objectives: To know why ‘religious art’ is hard to define. To understand how religion is used in art. To reflect on what you think counts as ‘religious art’.

What do you think constitutes ‘religious’ art? What should it depict? What purpose does it serve? What medium does it concern? Does it belong to certain eras in history?

ABC D E F G H I Q. Which of these art works count as ‘religious art’?

Some Important Questions will be discussed: How can we categorise ‘religious art’? Are religious subjects a suitable / appropriate subject matter for visual art? What problems might there be in interpreting / understanding ‘religious art’? Over these first few lessons we will see how art that depicts religious subjects (i.e. figures like Jesus, Saints, Angels etc.) has, in contemporary times, moved away from specifically ‘religious’ purposes and become secularised (profane / not sacred). Rather than for worship or praise, modern artworks use religion mainly as a theme.

Hieronymus BOSCH ‘Death and the Miser’ (1490) Death and the Miser, serves as a warning to anyone who has grabbed at life's pleasures, without being sufficiently detached, and who is unprepared to die. The naked and dying man has been a man of power: beyond the bed's foot lies his armour. His riches have come through combat; the sick fought for his wealth and stored it close to him. He appears twice, the second time in full health, soberly dressed because he hoards his gold, satisfied as he adds another coin. Demons lurk all around, death puts a leering head around the door (notice the sick man's surprise: death is never expected), and the final battle begins. It is one he must wage without his armour. Behind him, even now proffering gold, lurks a demon. Above the bed, expectant & interested, peers yet another demon. The outcome of the story is left undecided. We hope desperately that the miser will relinquish empty possessiveness and accept the truth of death.

The gas man came, took out our electric stove. I helped him carry her. He told me he had been a prize fighter once. Shuffled her through and out the door. We walked back in talked 'bout his boy at U.V.M. and we began to put the new stove in. But I miss my stove. She's all alone. Call it love. She's been replaced. I miss my stove. She's all alone. She's right out front and looks a mess. Unwanted guest. We lied to her. I miss my stove. Feel sad I guess. I know I shouldn't think about it anymore. "What's the point?" you say. But I'm reminded each time I walk out my door. My stove is gone to stay. He walked back in talked 'bout his boy at U.V.M. and we began to put the new stove in. But I miss my stove. She's all alone. Call it love. She's been replaced. I miss my stove. She's all alone. She's right out front and looks a mess. Unwanted guest. We lied to her. I miss my stove. Feel sad I guess. Q. Is he really singing about a stove? Lemonheads “Stove”

David POSTON - 'The Real Thing' Cross (2004) England Q. If this is not religious art, why would the artist use such religious imagery?

Andy WARHOL – ‘Jesus Christ $9.98’ ( ) (U.S.A.) Q. If this is not religious art, why would the artist use such religious imagery?

Damien Hirst’s ‘New Religion’ Exhibition (2007) Q. If this is not religious art, why would the artist use such religious imagery?

LS1: What is Religious Art? Lesson Objectives: To know why ‘religious art’ is hard to define. To understand how religion is used in art. To reflect on what you think counts as ‘religious art’.