'This brute stupidity gripped the whole world' - the broad canvas of Christian art

THE IRISH TIMES
By Gesa Thiessen

‘Curious and remarkable’: Detail of Pietà by Elisabeth Frink, part of the Methodist Church collection of modern Christian art in Britain on show at the Royal Hibernian Academy Gallery in Dublin until December 21st

Calvinist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches, unlike Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran places of worship, have tended to be austere, with no images, crucifixes, statues, and so on. Luther, contrary to Calvin and Zwingli, retained a far more positive view on church art. A curious and remarkable addition to this development is the Methodist Church collection of modern Christian art in Britain, on exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy Gallery in Dublin until December 21st. It is curious and remarkable indeed, as one might not have expected the Methodists, originating from the non-conformist dissenter tradition, to venture into collecting religious art. [More]