The Sol Iustitiae Chapel
The Sol Iustitiae Chapel
The depiction of the cross in Christian iconography. The impact of the German artist, Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim altarpiece, on Christian art, spirituality and our understanding of aesthetics: towards the ugliness of ‘God’.
Background
The cross in Christian reflection is intrinsically connected to human vulnerability and suffering (astheneia = weakness and skandalon = humiliation). Icons bring about an awareness of awe within the alarming and startling paradoxes of life: beauty framed by ugliness, death, suffering and weakness (astheneia). To a certain extent spiritual pain caused by suffering exposes our being human to the threat of death (skandalon). Life cannot avoid the threat of crucifixion. What then is the role of iconography in the depiction of the suffering of Christ? Is the cross in itself not an image of a pathetic and suffering God? Can one use icons as images of hope in the mode of a lament? In this regard the Isenheim altar piece of Matthias Grünewald can be seen as a breakthrough in Christian art and iconography.
The Event
It will not be a formal lecture or speech. I just want to guide you through the symbols and metaphoric meaning of the ‘stained-glass windows’. The aim is an event in order to enjoy and experience a sacred space wherein we all together prepare ourselves engaging the festivity of Passsover. We want to share the impact of a spiritual space and the spirituality of art on our being human and quest for meaning despite suffering and the fear for death. In fact, the crosses of vulnerability and aging in our life are the prisms for discovering the lightness of being.
Presenter: Daniel Louw
Date: 12 April 2022, 17h00 (for 17h30)
Venue: Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University
Entrance: Members free. Non members R50.
The depiction of the cross in Christian iconography. The impact of the German artist, Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim altarpiece, on Christian art, spirituality and our understanding of aesthetics: towards the ugliness of ‘God’.
Background
The cross in Christian reflection is intrinsically connected to human vulnerability and suffering (astheneia = weakness and skandalon = humiliation). Icons bring about an awareness of awe within the alarming and startling paradoxes of life: beauty framed by ugliness, death, suffering and weakness (astheneia). To a certain extent spiritual pain caused by suffering exposes our being human to the threat of death (skandalon). Life cannot avoid the threat of crucifixion. What then is the role of iconography in the depiction of the suffering of Christ? Is the cross in itself not an image of a pathetic and suffering God? Can one use icons as images of hope in the mode of a lament? In this regard the Isenheim altar piece of Matthias Grünewald can be seen as a breakthrough in Christian art and iconography.
The Event
It will not be a formal lecture or speech. I just want to guide you through the symbols and metaphoric meaning of the ‘stained-glass windows’. The aim is an event in order to enjoy and experience a sacred space wherein we all together prepare ourselves engaging the festivity of Passsover. We want to share the impact of a spiritual space and the spirituality of art on our being human and quest for meaning despite suffering and the fear for death. In fact, the crosses of vulnerability and aging in our life are the prisms for discovering the lightness of being.
Presenter: Daniel Louw
Date: 12 April 2022, 17h00 (for 17h30)
Venue: Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University
Entrance: Members free. Non members R50.
