Angela Cotta, Contributor
Originally painted in the late 1800s by the master French painter William Bouguereau, “L’Innocence” (The Innocence) is an illustration of the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus and the Lamb.
The artist’s central focus is the Virgin Mary, because she is the most prominent image in the painting, clothed in a bright white gown amidst a darker, neutral background. Upon viewing the Virgin Mary, the observer will notice Baby Jesus and the Lamb in her arms, which are also illustrated with lighter colors to contrast with the darker background.
William Bouguereau’s “L’Innocence” is an example of how art allows viewers to connect with the familiar and the unfamiliar. Photo courtesy of illusiongallery.com
Why is studying art important? Art evokes emotions from its observers, allowing them to make connections to familiar and unfamiliar time periods, people, places, events, objects and topics including faith. Art presents a window to the world outside people’s lives.
Lewis University’s theology department offers a class called Christian Faith and the Arts taught by Dr. Dominic Colonna, theology department chair. It is a 200-level course described in the course catalog as a “course [that] explores the ways in which religious faith and belief are expressed through the arts, including the visual and performing arts.”
Christian Faith and the Arts is offered during the spring semester as a travel study course. Colonna and Dr. Dennis Cremin, associate professor of history, take a group of students to Italy. While Cremin does not teach the course, he strongly recommends it because history and theology go hand-in-hand.
“The [Christian] Faith and the Arts and the Ancient World offered through the Italy Travel Study has been the best team teaching experience I’ve ever had. We often say that great art bears repeated viewing,” said Cremin. “I have seen Dr. Colonna encouraging students to look and think about what they are seeing. It is difficult to move out of our busy lives and really take the time to consider these works. I think our culture often encourages us to experience certain works of art. There is so much to be gained by spending time really looking at the Sistine Chapel or Michelangelo’s David.”
The Italy Travel Study program is an experience that would be of great value to any Lewis student. Students meet with the professors a few times over the course of the semester and then travel to Italy in May. Either professor can be contacted for more information about the program.
Angela Cotta
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