English
When we think of religious art, images of Christ, the virgin, the apostles and other biblical scenes, pop up in our minds. The most of the art we relate with sacred art are paintings and sculptures done many centuries ago; works that surely you’ve seen in Italy, especially in the artistic city of Florence, by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini or other famous Renaissance artists. The ones, who thought that sacred art was something from the past, are simply wrong. In fact, religious art is in demand today, in the XXI century.
Located on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, there is a school of sacred art, which is trying to stoke the fires of this tradition, which has made the city one of the most important historical and artistic centers worldwide. Although Michelangelo and his colleagues passed away many years ago, their spirit is still there. In an article published in the Huffington Post, the director of this school, Giorgio Fozzati, declared that “the sacred art market is a booming market”, adding the fact that, only in Italy, more than 540 churches have been built in the past two decades.
Photo: madprime
Another factor influencing that the sacred art is in constant development is the fact that the Catholic Church sanctifies people, such as the former Pope John Paul II, among many others. These new saints need paintings, sculptures and other works of art to represent them and that is why religious artists are in constant demand. Fozzati indicates, “The challenge is not to copy the old masterpieces but to educate artists to be able to interpret the tradition of sacred art with a modern language”.
Certainly, seen from this point of view, it is very clear that those who thought that sacred art was something of the past have been exposed to their mistake by an explanation as logical as the one contained in the previous paragraph. Furthermore, Fozzati’s school, founded in 2012, puts special emphasis on the human figure, something already made by another Florentine: Leonardo da Vinci. With students from all over the world, the school ensures that what is taught there is useful throughout the world , even in places as far away as China and Sri Lanka.
Many of the students are Cradle Catholics or Converted Catholics, who want to express themselves artistically through religion or just, as Shana Smith from NYC says: “to communicate with God through art”. Who knows, maybe in 400 or 500 years we will be talking about these masters.
aleixgwilliam
Rent Florence accomodation and visit all the important sacred art places in the city. This is an art form that will mesmerize you with its magnificent beauty. Florence is the Italian artistic city par excellence; enjoy its impressive churches, museums and art galleries.
