Saint Agnes Convent - AHB

I'm going to try and answer each of Kip's discussion questions systematically so that I don't get too off track.

1) (HISTORICAL PROGRESSION) There was definitely a clear historical progression in both form and content. I'm not sure that I would have recognized this without knowing it before hand, but it was very cool to think about the changes as I witnessed them. From what I could gather the art was from about a 300-400 year time period (13th-17th century or so). Initially I didn't consider this a long amount of time, but if you compare it to the rapidity with which contemporary art changes, it's a whole different game. The earliest paintings and carvings were very simplistic, almost to the point of being primitive, especially the wooden statues. All the faces were sort of placid, besides the occasional suffering Christ or Madonna. As we went on and especially near the end the style changed a great deal. There was a lot more color, and even the themes became more exciting. It was almost like the artists had to take some time to get comfortable, as if the earliest painters and sculptors didn't quite know where the limits were.

2) (COMPARISON W/ GRECO-ROMAN) To my surprise I didn't find a lot of similarities in this area. Sure, the subject is in some way related, but I think they ways of treating deities was just entirely different. First of all, there is almost no sensuality in Medieval Christian art, and I can't think of a single example of Greek or Roman art where this is the case. The Madonna is depicted as almost sexless, and yes I'll concede that it may be profane and shallow to think about the Virgin Mary's physical body (that woman has no chest), but c'mon, if you changed the face on those statues I would have no idea what gender they were going for. This may also go back the artist's being unsure of how to depict these incredibly Holy subjects. Another difference I found interesting is the subject matter of many of the paintings. Classical Greek or Roman art generally deals with the great exploits of gods or men. The emphasis is definitely on accomplishment. In Medieval Christian art suffering seems to be the main theme. The only scenes of glory are those that show Christ or God ruling in heaven. However, I did notice a few things that reminded me of Greco-Roman motifs, paintings, and sculptures. Occasionally there was a glorifying image of someone like St. George, and his story of slaying the dragon reminded me of Apollo and the python. Another similarity is the beauty of the figures. Whether or not the artist succeeds is irrelevant, what is clear is that God and the Saints are intended to be almost angelically beautiful.

3) A few of these paintings and sculptures aroused strong feelings within me, but nothing like some of the other art that we've seen. For whatever reason I just don't seem to connect with the sense of the Holy that is supposed to get across. A part of this is that the images are so familiar by know that the message is old and tired. The only feeling that I get is profound apathy. Sorry for to say (Kabat accent).