With the surprise resignation of the Pope just a few weeks ago, something that hasn't happened since the dark ages, I found myself mulling over the drastically different relationships between artists and the church from then to now. Suddenly, I had a direct connection to artists from the 1600s, a common issue to comment on, with artists that have only ever been a legendary name on a page...
I would like to put together a show of artists' modern interpretation of that relationship between pope and artist...but until there's more news on that, take a look at the power of papal portraiture through the ages...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/mar/12/popes-perfect-portraits-vatican
and then go ahead and take a look at a series of portraits themselves...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2013/feb/11/best-popes-art-in-pictures
I think the main point here, and with the proposed show forming in my head, is that art and religion have always been connected and to forget that is to forget a large portion of our collective culture. Through both good and bad, they've commented on and effected each other, and it's almost our duty, as artists, to continue that connection in a way and informs and advances our modern world.
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