The range of religious art

LEARNING OBJECTIVE – To explore the range of religious art and to consider whether religion is a suitable subject for art.

By the end of the lesson:All must – understand the range of religious art and consider whether religion is a suitable subject for art.Most should – be able to identify examples within each category.Some could – consider reasons for liking or disliking types of religious art.

Key Questions

• What are the different types of religious art?

• Is religion a suitable subject for art?• Is the main purpose of religious art to

represent the Divine?• What do you like and dislike about

different types of religious art?

Types of religious art

Paintings

Stained glass

windows

Tapestry Architecture and architectural features

e.g. gargoyles

Statues

ManuscriptsVestmentsAltar

cloths/hassocks

Gravestones

Mosaic

Floor tiles/designsAids to prayer e.g.

icons, rosaries

STARTERHow many types of religious art can you name?

Main taskOver the next few slides we will look at a range of religious art. For each section write notes on the following.

1. The types of art within this category e.g. styles, traditional/modern etc.

2. What you think is the purpose of this type of religious art; what is it attempting to represent, or how may it be used?

3. Why you think some religious people would like this type of religious art and others dislike it.

Paintings

Stained glass windows

Tapestry

Architecture and architectural features e.g. gargoyles

Floor tiles/design

Statues

Manuscripts (Book of Kells)

Vestments

Altar cloths/hassocks

Gravestones

Mosaic

4th CenturyEarly Christian

Modern

Aids to prayer e.g. icons and rosaries

Task two – Discussion/written work

How much of the art specifically represented the Divine (God) and how much was representing other aspects of Christianity?

Do you think that the main purpose of religious art is to represent the Divine?

EXTENSION TASKS• From what you have seen, what types of religious art do you

like and dislike.• Are there any types of religious art that you would consider

inappropriate or unsuitable?

Plenary

There is a huge range of religious art.

1. Is religious art necessary?2. What do you think it adds to

religion?3. What would Christianity be like if

there was no art?