Week 2: Chapters 4 - 7

[Kerstin]

Chapter 4: Confession and the Laity

The Church took a more pastoral stance on Confession and Penance to entice to faithful, it was to be more “by lifting up rather then beating down.” It was stressed that “Confession [was to be] a means to accompany souls like a coach training an athlete.” Transformative stories from grave sinner to saint were upheld as models, such as those of St. Margaret of Cortona (1247 - 1297).

Artwork featured:
Christ and the Good Thief by Titian
St. Margaret of Cortona by Guercino
Christ Crowned with Thorns by Annibale Carracci

[Manny]

I absolutely loved the Christ Crowned with Thorns by Annibale Carracci. I don't know what it really has to do with confession or penance, but I loved the way Carracci simultaneously captured the suffering Christ and yet still a loving Christ to one who is torturing Him. It's haunting! That is just superb!

[Kerstin]

Oh, that painting is haunting - that's the right word! I have a hard time looking at it.

[Madeleine]

A few years ago our Dallas Museum of Art featured Caravaggio's Mary Magdalene and Martha, in a room by itself with commentary. Somehow I had missed Caravaggio in my Art History classes, and not sure why, but I was fascinated. That same year we were doing Matthew in our parish Bible study and was just as fascinated by The Calling of Matthew, and shared a scan to our group with comments. I remain fascinated by the artist's treatment of hands. And gratified by Caravaggio's part in my friendship with Frances. I'm reminded of some professional storytellers I have know (they have competitions and other gatherings) and started paying more attention to how much gestures convey subtext. Especially Caravaggio's.

[Madeleine]

Chapter 6 is about Baptism in art. Another study year that subject came up in a lesson where I found a mention of Jesus' baptism and his conquest of the devil, and how some artists slipped in a demon, dragon or leviathan in the water beneath Jesus feet. So of course I had to do a search. There are some indeed, but most of them don't include it. Still, it's fun to look.

[Galicius]

Some years ago, the Metropolitan Museum (NYC) had a Caravaggio exhibit. They used an abridged part of his “Judith Beheading Holofernes” painting in their announcement poster. If you have not seen this painting it deserves a graphic content warning.

[Manny]

Yes, I remember Galicius, and Caravaggio's “Judith Beheading Holofernes” comes up in chapter 21.

Speaking of Caravaggio, whose paintings I usually love, I have to say his "Penitent Magdalene" has to be the most uninspired painting in Caravaggio's career. It's not horrid, but I fail to see what's so penitent about it. She looks more like she's sleeping. It's not one for the ages.

[Galicius]

Manny wrote: "Speaking of Caravaggio, whose paintings I usually love, I have to say his "Penitent Magdalene" ... She looks more like she's sleeping"

Good observation Manny. Hard to see penitence in "Penitent Magdalene."

I am amazed though at the large number of great Catholic art Elizabeth Lev found and is bringing to our attention.

[Kerstin]

Chapter 5: Mary Magdalene: Making Penance Look Good

One of the towering figures of conversion from sinner to saint is Mary Magdalene. She was portrayed in numerous paintings. We find her in self-denial, in rediscovered chastity, a model of conversion in general, but also as a model of mortification and renewal.

Paintings featured:
St. Mary Magdalene by Guido Reni
The Penitent Magdalene with Two Angels by Guercino
Penitent Magdalene by Caravaggio
The Penitent Magdalene by Agostino Carracci
The Penitent Mary Magdalene by Aremisia Gentileschi

Chapter 6: Baptismal Battles
New confusion was sown by the Protestants as to what is a valid baptism, infant or adult, and to what extent sin is remitted.

The Catholic Church denied that Baptism would shield the faithful from punishment for all future sins, requiring Catholics to work constantly at maintaining the purity of the baptismal stat through prayer, penance, and indulgences.

Pope Sixtus V in his short reign made Rome a welcoming town to pilgrims with the improvement of roads and the building of many fountains as a reminder of Baptism, but also for the refreshment of the weary travelers.
Here is a picture of the Fountain of Moses or Fontana dell Aqua Felice.
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/fonta...
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...

There are numerous paintings depicting baptisms in general and Christ’s baptism in particular, the two chosen here are
The Baptism of Christ by Annibale Carracci
St. Francis Xavier Baptizing Proselytes by Luca Giordano

Chapter 7: Holy Orders and Religious Consecration
Luther strongly criticized the Church hierarchy with all their deplorable behaviors, and he did have a point. The Church countered that there is always a need for saints, holy priests, and devout religious who by their example can show the way to salvation.
The paintings featured:
The Clothing of St. Hyacinth by Taddeo Zuccari
St. William of Aquitaine Receiving the Cowl by Guercino
St. Charles Borromeo Blessing a Leper by Carlo Saraceni

[Manny]

I was not aware of the Fontana dell Aqua Felice. If it was in my tourist book when I went to Rome, I must have overlooked it. I didn't know it was there. That looks beautiful. I should have gone to it.

I thought The Clothing of St. Hyacinth by Taddeo Zuccari was a richer painting than Lev describes. In addition to what she wrote, I thought the three paintings inside a painting was original and inspired. I think there have been paintings within paintings, but three seems remarkable. It's almost as if Zuccari painted four paintings, the main painting up front and the three in the background. And just like a triptych where each panel gives meaning to the others, I think those three paintings accentuate the them of the main foreground.

[Kerstin]

Manny wrote: "I was not aware of the Fontana dell Aqua Felice. If it was in my tourist book when I went to Rome, I must have overlooked it. I didn't know it was there. That looks beautiful. I should have gone to..."

I didn't know about it either. Rome has so many fountains that if you don't know its significance you just look at it in passing.

[Celia]

I am savoring the book and
1) telling everybody who I think might benefit to read it
2) continue to make public my kindle highlights

Am now about to start Chapter 9

[Catherine]

Celia wrote: "I am savoring the book and
1) telling everybody who I think might benefit to read it
2) continue to make public my kindle highlights

Celia, I completely agree. I wasn't sure I was going to read it because my new job is so mentally taxiing. So I've been keeping my reading light. I was expecting a heavy tome but in fact find it's not overwhelming. I am enjoying the author taking her reader deeper into the artists intent and what/who was prompting and inspiring them.

[Manny]

Glad you are both enjoying the book. I am too. It’s not heavy reading, but each painting leads to some meditation. It also looks like we’re a week behind the proposed schedule, which should help you catch up Catherine.

[Kerstin]

Manny wrote: "It also looks like we’re a week behind the proposed schedule..."

Not sure how that happened! I started with such good intentions ;-)

[Madeleine]

I'm enjoying the book too, although I admit I wasn't too enthusiastic about it at first. Glad to know I'm keeping up thanks to other behinders! And glad to be into this book and learning more not only about art, but about the Reformation and the Catholic response.

[Manny]

Kerstin wrote: "Manny wrote: "It also looks like we’re a week behind the proposed schedule..."

Not sure how that happened! I started with such good intentions ;-)"

It’s not easy to keep on schedule. Most of the times I lead a read I fall behind. I have complete sympathy for you. Personal life has to take priority.

[Galicius]

I was pleasantly surprised soon after getting into this book that it is one of the finer selections here. I never heard of this interesting author and I am grateful to her for exposing me to a great many masterful pieces of religious art that I did not even know existed. A routine review of art history seems to omit a great many of what Elizabeth Lev reveals here.

Be that as it may as the first benefit gained from this reading, she delivers well on her main objective stated in the title. She makes solid convincing points throughout about the “Protestant Reformation” and comes up with a much better term “Catholic Restoration” which she uses throughout. She goes after Luther more than seventy times in the text, Calvin more than twenty, and does not neglect Zwingli, Henry VIII, or Queen Elizabeth I and their heresies.

[Manny]

I thought it was a neat term too, Catholic Restoration, but after thinking about it now, what is being restored? She explains:
"The innovations of this period in art were less a prodding of the Protestant Reformation and more a dynamic renewal of an engagement with the arts that had been going on since the third century. For this reason, instead of using the term Counter-Reformation, suggesting that the period was merely a reaction to the tumult of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and companions, this book will employ the term Counter-Reformation to emphasize that, after the shock of the early events, the Church proactively representative her ancient teachings through the powerful language of art." (p. 7-8)

OK, I agree.