Variations in Christian Art: Mennonite, Mormon, Quaker, and Swedenborgian

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The artistic traditions of four major Christian denominations are examined and outlined in detail in this groundbreaking volume that presents the first synthesis of the artistic contributions of those traditions. Diane Apostolos-Cappadona has curated a volume that presents four single-authored contributions in one place, broadening the study of Christian art beyond Roman Catholic, Orthodox and 'protestant' traditions to consider these more recent Christian approaches in close and expert detail.

Rachel Epp Buller examines art in the Mennonite tradition, Mormon art is considered by Heather Belnap, Quaker contributions by Rowena Loverance and Swedenborgian art by Diane Apostolos-Cappadona. Each writer presents elements of the theology of their chosen tradition through the prism of the artists and artistic works that they have selected. Alongside mainstream artistic figures such as William Blake less known figures come to the fore and the volume features color illustrations that support and underline the theological and artistic themes presented in each section of the book. Together these studies of artistic presentations in these four traditions will be a much need means of filling a gap in the study of Christian art.

Reviews

When we think of Christian art rooted in Western culture, what comes to mind... Variations in Christian Art spotlights an intriguing combination of four lesser-known Christian artistic traditions: Mennonites, Quakers, Latter-day Saints and Swedenborgians. * Anabaptist World *
This well-researched volume offers a rich contrast of attitudes towards the visual amongst four Christian groups situated on the edge of the mainstream and details how artists within those traditions have navigated a path between organisational religious sensibilities and their own personal creativity. Generously illustrated and offering an abundance of insights into the nature of the relationship between religion and art, this book is accessible, engaging and compelling. * Ben Pink Dandelion, Honorary Professor of Quaker Studies, University of Birmingham *

The relationship between art and religion is hugely complicated, involving a vast variety of objects, understood in a great variety of ways by people with a great variety of beliefs, approaches and agendas.
As religion today changes, its relationship to art is attracting more and more interest from scholars, museum curators and many others.
These four studies examine art and religion in four very different modern Western faith traditions: Mennonites, Mormons, Quakers and Swedenborgians. They reveal just how complicated the relationship can be, opening the door to new understandings of the relationship of objects to religion, that key element of the human experience.

* Crispin Paine, Honorary Lecturer at University College London, UK *

Variations in Christian Art: Mennonite, Mormon, Quaker, and Swedenborgian Art offers a fascinating account of the place of art in four religious traditions that have often been overlooked in art historical scholarship.
The authors provide important insight about theologies of visuality, the role of images in worship, and the impact of faith on artistic practice in each of the four denominations, demonstrating the significance of visual art even in traditions that have been commonly mischaracterized as iconoclastic.
Variations in Christian Art offers an expanded vision Christian art, revealing a rich diversity of religious thought and artistic production in denominations that may be less familiar to scholars and students of religious art.

* Nathan Rees, professor of art history at the University of West Georgia, USA *
In commenting on a painting by the artist, William Page, Elizabeth Barrett Browning once described him as an earnest, simple, noble artist and man, who carries his Christianity down from his deep heart to the point of his brush. In many ways, this describes the effort of every visionary artist, in whatever religious tradition they follow. In this well-written, meticulously researched, and highly informative book, Apostolos-Cappadona provides abundant evidence that art is much more than art for arts sake. It is the timeless quest to capture in visual imagery, the spiritual nature of material existence. As the writer Joseph Conrad once said, My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word to make you hear, to make you feelit is, before all, to make you see. This has been the task of every artist, including the Christian visionaries that are included in this volume. Each, in their own way, endeavored to transmit to others the visions of spiritual beauty they beheld within and behind physical existence. In addition to being an important contribution to the history of art, this book will be an inspiration to all who read it. * Ray Silverman, Professor of English and Religion, Bryn Athyn College, USA *

Author Bio

Diane Apostolos-Cappadona is Professor Emerita of Religious Art and Cultural History and Haub Director in the Catholic Studies Program, Georgetown University, USA.