The impact of religion on art and famous art pieces
The painting of the Last Supper by Da Vinci
We all have heard about many, many famous art pieces, whether it be in school, or just in day to day life. However, consideration about what led to the creation of some art pieces is crucial to beginning to understand what the meaning may be, or even just to really appreciate the art. Artwork has been around pretty much as long as we have, in the form of carvings, painting, and many other things.
There are works of art that depict religious figures from the times they were made, such as the famous painting of the Last Supper made by Leonardo da Vinci, painted between 1495 and 1498. This art displays a moment in the Gospels section of the Bible, where Jesus declares that one of his 12 disciples will betray him. This painting includes an interpretation of how da Vinci thought each of the disciples would react to such information, therefore provides insight for the viewer on how the artist thought their personalities would be like, and a representation of human emotion.
Another well known and important work of art is the Dome of the Rock, which applies to Islamic and Jewish religions. This famous work of architectural art is in fact a building instead of painting, but the number of intricate details that went into this shrine classify it as such. This holy structure sits upon a large rock which holds great importance to both religions mentioned. A dazzling golden dome makes up the top of this building, as well as many decorations adorning the inside. Mosaics line the walls of this architectural wonder, adding another layer of beauty to this work of art.
For the final feat of artistic objects mentioned here, there is the Leshan Giant Buddha, which can be found in China, located in the Leshan, Sichuan province. It was built in 713; carved into a cliff made of red sandstone, and certainly lives up to its status as “giant” by standing at about 233 feet high. This statue is such an impressive carving not only because of its size, but also cultural significance. The place where this Buddha statue stands also is where Buddhism was first established in China. The Buddha statue has been diligently watching over the surrounding lands for thousands of years, which really speaks for the amount of engineering and architectural prowess which went into this project.
All these projects listed above hold religious, and sometimes cultural significance to the people relative to these things. Each one has a story behind construction, and artistic talents to be admired.