Brushstrokes of Faith: Easter and the history of Art.
Before art galleries or collectors, there were churches—and for centuries, that’s where art lived. During the Gothic (c1150-1400) and Renaissance (c1400-1527) periods, Christian themes weren’t just common—they were the subject of almost all art subjects. Artists painted the stories of the Bible, not only to inspire devotion, but to make spiritual truths visible and visual, and to teach people lessons from the bible.
But as the Reformation swept across Europe in 1517, the role of art began to change. The religious monopoly on art loosened. Suddenly, artists could explore the human condition beyond the sacred—and into the personal, the political, and the everyday.
Van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross (c. 1435) is a masterclass in emotional expression and technical innovation. His use of oil paints allowed for intricate details and vivid colors, bringing a lifelike quality to the figures. This piece was so influential that it was widely copied and adapted in the following centuries.
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