Catholic Art—Study Aids

These pages summarize much of the material needed to study for the Catholic Art unit review questions and are derived from Public domain sources.

The primary book used as a reference for the Catholic Influence on Art unit is Art Through Faith by Mary Lynch, offered by Seton Press. In addition to books, however, websites and videos, such as the History of Western Art Video series listed below, are important resources.

Art Through Faith by Mary Lynch
This edition of Art 8 for Young Catholics is a most beautiful art appreciation book from Seton Press, and one of our most popular items! Full color reproductions of Christianity's greatest religious art with insightful comments to point out religious meaning. The junior high student is introduced to the work of 78 different artists in this truly unique collection that could easily serve as a "coffee table book." Includes such artists as: Fra Angelico, Bellini and Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and the Renaissance Painters, Rubens, and the Pre-Raphaelites

Reading Assignment: The entire text is worthwhile, but the Q/A for Catholic Art focuses mainly on artistic innovations of the Renaissance period (1200-1600), corresponding to Chapters (7) Giotto to (26) Veronese.

DVD Video: The History of Western Art by Cromwell Productions
This is a secular series on the history of art, but the first three half hour vidoes, cover most of the important developments in Western Art from the Early Renaissance to the Baroque period. Other Art History videos cover the same material, but this has excellent visual support, moves along at a fairly interesting pace, and is more likely to hold the interest of younger students than some other series. These Videos are available on DVD or also by Streaming Video on Ambrose Digital. The three episodes of most interest are as follows:

Volume 1: Light in the Darkness—Focus is on the Medieval period highlighting the works of Giotto, Van Eyck and other artists who forged a link with the religious world, discovered perspective and paved the way for the Renaissance which was to follow.

Volume 2: A New Dream—Focus is on the Renaissance. This golden age inspired the likes of Michaelangelo, Raphael, Da Vinci and Holbein. This video highlights masterpieces such as the Ambassadors, The Mona Lisa, The Last Judgement and The Last Supper.

Volume 3: The Age of Splendor—Focus is on the Baroque. Great works from Rembrandt, Rubens,Caravaggio and Bernini coupled with spectacular new limits of realism and expression that fosters such great art as Las Meninas, Marriage a la Mode, The Conversion of St Paul and The Lion Hunt.

These book related to Catholic Art are in the Public Domain and electronic versions can be opened in your e-reader.

Knights of Art: Stories of the Italian Painters  by Amy Steedman
This book contains stories from the Renaissance painters of Italy, simplified from the classical Lives of the Painters by Vasari. Some of the artists whose lives are told include Giotto, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Color plates of many of their masterpieces are included.

The Video series listed above: History of Western Art is probably the best series for younger students, but is is necessary to purchase DVDs or streaming rights, and much of the material is covered in other video similar series such as Landmarks of Western Art, which is currently available on youtube.

• Landmarks of Western Art — Episode 1: The Late Medieval World
• Landmarks of Western Art — Episode 2: The Renaissance
• Landmarks of Western Art — Episode 3: The Baroque

• Wikipedia: Christian Art
• Wikipedia: Italian Renaissance Painting
• Wikipedia: Renaissance Art: Artists, Great Works, Collections
• Ten Finest works of Early Renaissance Art
• Ten Remarkable Christian Paintings of the Renaissance