"Christian art" is a term which, while it always applies to thefine arts and their creations only, is nevertheless used in more than one meaning which we must distinguish in this encyclopedia. Most frequently we designate byChristian art, thefine arts in as much as we find them in the service of theChurch, i.e. in so far as they serve either to construct or to embellish houses of worship, the homes of theconsecrated servants ofGod,monasteries,convents, the last resting-places of thefaithful, etc., or in as much as they beautify therites andceremonies of theChurch. In this sense,Christian art is also called ecclesiastical art, and we find it convenient to treat this subject under the titleECCLESIASTICAL ART. ButChristian art is sometimes also used to denote thefine arts and their creations, in as much as they are in harmony withChristian ideals and principles. In this regardChristian art will be treated under the several special headings into which its divisions naturally fall. (SeePAINTING; MUSIC;SCULPTURE etc.)
APA citation.Christian Art.(1908). InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03710a.htm
MLA citation."Christian Art."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 3.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1908.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03710a.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Joseph P. Thomas.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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