The Sistine Chapel Walls and the Roman Liturgy
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Description
Some decades before Michelangelo began work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, such masters as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and Signorelli were called to Rome by Pope Sixtus IV to decorate the walls. By 1483, these painters had completed two monumental fresco cycles illustrating the lives of Moses and Christ - works of complex, and sometimes puzzling, iconography. Carol F. Lewine shows that many long-standing questions posed by these Renaissance masterpieces can be resolved by systematic investigation of their undoubted links with the Roman liturgy. Her reconstruction of the scheme by which liturgical themes of the weeks between Christmas and Ascension Thursday are mirrored in the subjects of these frescoes has revealed, unexpectedly, that within this program the primary emphasis is on the liturgy of Lent, often on the Lenten liturgy of the early church, and on such Lenten themes as baptism and penitence. The discovery that these frescoes also refer to the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews, another ancient Lenten theme, suggests that Sixtus IV created the papal chapel that bears his name in order to commemorate the return of the popes from their "Babylonian Captivity" at Avignon. This exile ended in 1377, approximately one hundred years before Sixtus began to plan the major artistic enterprise of his pontificate. Lewine's approach to the interpretation of visual images in terms of their liturgical significance is in itself important and her argument, grounded in close visual inspection of the paintings, is ingenious and provocative. Her analyses of the interactions among narrative and symbol, text and image, form and meaning, offer stimulating contributions to quattrocento studies and encourage further consideration of all the decoration of the Sistine Chapel, together, as parts of an evolving ensemble.
AI Overview
"The Sistine Chapel Walls and the Roman Liturgy" by Carol F. Lewine is a scholarly book published by Pennsylvania State University Press in 1993. Here is a comprehensive overview of the book, including its key themes, plot summary, and critical reception:
Key Themes
- Art and Liturgy: The book explores the relationship between the art on the walls of the Sistine Chapel and the Roman liturgy. It delves into how the visual elements of the chapel's frescoes reflect and influence the religious rituals and practices of the Roman Catholic Church[1][2].
- Historical Context: Lewine provides a historical context for the Sistine Chapel's construction and the development of its liturgical practices. This includes the role of Pope Julius II and Michelangelo in shaping the chapel's design and artwork[2].
- Symbolism and Iconography: The book examines the symbolic and iconographic elements within the frescoes, discussing their significance in conveying theological and liturgical messages[4].
Plot Summary
The book is structured around an in-depth analysis of the Sistine Chapel's walls, focusing on the frescoes painted by Michelangelo. Lewine explores how these artworks were integrated into the broader liturgical practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The narrative is divided into chapters that examine specific sections of the chapel, each chapter delving into the historical, theological, and artistic context of the frescoes[2].
Critical Reception
- Academic Reviews: The book received positive reviews from academic circles. Charles L. Stinger, in his review published in the Catholic Historical Review, praised Lewine's meticulous research and insightful analysis of the relationship between art and liturgy[5].
- Church History Volume: A review published in Church History Volume 64, Issue 2 (June 1995), noted that Lewine's work provides a valuable contribution to the field of church history, particularly in understanding the intersection of art and liturgy in the Sistine Chapel[3].
Publication Details
- Title: The Sistine Chapel Walls and the Roman Liturgy
- Author: Carol F. Lewine
- Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press
- Publication Year: 1993
- Pages: 134
- Price: $45.00 (at the time of publication)[1][2][4]
Overall, "The Sistine Chapel Walls and the Roman Liturgy" by Carol F. Lewine offers a detailed and scholarly exploration of the Sistine Chapel's frescoes and their role in the Roman liturgy, providing insights into the historical, theological, and artistic contexts of the chapel's design and artwork.