To read part 1 of this article, which was published on Tuesday, click here.
We continue with some considerations on the ordering principles of a canon for liturgical art.
2. The texts of the liturgyAs I write this, I have just returned from a short visit to the Norbertine Canons Regular at St Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California. I was talking about this topic with them, and one of their seminarians made the point that the Roman Canon ought to be a crucial. I realized that this is the text, perhaps more than any other, that will characterize the Roman liturgy and will contribute its distinctive imagery, differentiating it from other Rites. The Saints and the particular Old Testament archetypes referred to in it could be portrayed pictorially. For example, here is a 6th-century mosaic of the three sacrifices, those of Abel, Melchizedek and Abraham, in the church of Sant’Apollinare in Classe just outside Ravenna.
3. The Eastern Rite.
I suggest that the schema for iconostases should be studied in such a way that we can understand how they are formed by the liturgy. I would be looking at the images contained therein, and how their relative positions enable the worshipper to interact with Saints portrayed and be engaged with the mysteries represented.
To take just one example, something that was pointed out to me recently by Melkite priest Fr Sebastian Carnazzo of St Elias Melkite Catholic Church: at the centre of the iconostasis are the Royal Doors, which are opened periodically during the Divine Liturgy. These usually have icons of the Annunciation.
By this, Mary the Mother of God becomes the portal, so to speak, through which the Word is made flesh. The image above is a modern example from a church in St Petersburg, based on a 14th century Greek image, with the addition of peacocks which symbolize eternal life. When the doors are opened, we see the altar, and so the two are connected in our minds. I found the image below of Holy Resurrection Melkite Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio, in which the large image of the Mother of God, here behind the altar, reinforces the point that her Son is between us and her. There is no image of the Resurrection itself, but the Risen Christ is visible nevertheless, is seen with the eyes of Faith on the altar.
In Chapter 8 of his book, The Orthodox Liturgy: The Development of the Eucharistic Liturgy in the Byzantine Rite, Anglican clergyman Andrew Wybrew discussed how the iconostasis developed in conjunction with the liturgy, and by the 14th century was set in an established pattern. There are a number of ordering principles at work, but generally, other things being equal, those images that are most prominent in the hierarchy will be more centrally positioned and placed physically highest in the church building. The architecture of the building and the layout develops so as to harmonize with this.
4. Study the Western tradition in the light of what we learn.
In parallel with this study, we should examine such schemata where they occur in the West, look for similarities and differences, and try to account for them. Consider, for example, the famous Ghent altarpiece from the 15th century; this is a reredos, and so, in contrast to the above, would have been situated behind the altar and not in front of it.
Nevertheless there are similarities. It also has doors, which look like this when closed:
Here too, the Annunciation is the dominant image. In addition to the prophets and patrons, there are St John the Baptist, who proclaimed the Lamb of God, and St John the Evangelist who described the moment in his Gospel.
When the doors of the reredos are opened, this scene is revealed:
As with the iconostasis, the doors open to reveal the altar with the lamb, but this is presented pictorially so as to highlight what is happening in front of it, on the altar in the church. We now see Our Lady as a Queen and John the Baptist flanking Christ in Glory, who is the “image of the Father.” (For a more detailed analysis of this, see my article on the Ghent altarpiece in the Adoremus Bulletin of March 2016. Incidentally, notice how, top left and top right we have the sacrifice by and the killing of Abel, in monochrome.)
Two of the Marian anthems sung after Compline, the Alma Redemptoris Mater and the Ave, Regina caelorum, speak directly of Mary as the doorway, the door of morning, and heaven’s gateway. These are sung in Advent and Lent, the seasons which anticipate the coming of the Lord and His Resurrection . I wonder if this connection was made with this painting by the congregations of 15th century Ghent?
The reredos will not have been the only set of images in the church. Most likely a rood screen was in front of the altar, and that will have had a crucifix. This highlights one difficulty of studying past schemata; paintings are moved or destroyed, and so we don’t know what was there originally. Mosaics might be the best indication we have of original arrangements. We know only too well today that churches are constantly re-ordered; many offer an assortment of art which reflects the favorite devotions and taste of the last pastor or patron, and are not an indication of tradition.
5. Liturgical action
One thing that has always struck me about the way that Eastern Rite Catholics worship is the more active engagement with the images during the liturgy itself. Attention sways to left and right as the Mother of God or Christ or the Patron Saint are addressed through their icons.
Many Roman Catholics do not have the facility of worshipping in conjunction with images in the way that one might see in an Eastern liturgy. I don’t know what is cause and what is effect here. It might be that the style of worship for a long time, the last couple of centuries perhaps, has been such that there is so little engagement with the art, and thus, little point in having many liturgical images. It might be that the emphasis on devotional imagery in churches has meant that the liturgy itself has become disengaged from its surroundings, because there was less and less opportunity to engage with art during worship.
Regardless of the reason, we have a situation today where even if great care is taken to choose beautiful, high quality art, and even if the liturgy is celebrated well, there is rarely a connection between art and worship. The art and architecture becomes at best a beautiful backdrop which creates an atmosphere appropriate to what is going on, rather than an integral part of a beautiful and gracefully liturgical “machine” in motion.
I suggest that thought needs to be given to how we can adapt the celebration of the Mass so that there is greater engagement. Clearly this needs to be done with care, and I would hesitate myself to make many suggestions as to exactly what could be done during the Mass itself. I would rather leave that to liturgical specialists.
I do offer a few thoughts for consideration, however. For example, the Eastern practice of putting out an icon of the day’s feast, or on related to the readings, could be adopted so that all see it as they come into the church. Then, perhaps, on processing in and out of the Church, it could be incensed and venerated. The homily could reinforce this by referring to the image - “this is why we venerated it when we came in,” etc, Furthermore, there could be processions round the church building itself before or after Mass at which the images appropriate to the liturgical calendar are venerated and incensed. Congregations would develop the habit of noting which images were appropriate to any particular day, and those thoughts would be with them during the Mass proper so that at the mention of, for example, the saint of the day during the Collect they would instinctively turn to look at the image.
I have pointed out in the past that I do not see how any artist can realistically expect to paint art that connects with prayer if he is not habitually praying with art himself. With this in mind, I have tried to develop the habit myself during Mass of turning to face the statue or painting of the saint at the moment he or she is named. Similarly, if we are addressing the Father in prayer, as in the Our Father, I try to remember look at the image of Christ, so that I address my prayer to the Father through the Son, the “image of the invisible God”, in the Spirit.
I have an icon corner at home, so that when I pray the Liturgy of the Hours, I do so in conjunction with imagery. The book The Little Oratory was written to help lay people develop this habit of engaging with imagery in the context of the liturgy, in the hope that they might subsequently bring this habit with them when they pray the Mass.
There is something else that I would ask from artists and patrons. Don’t make the symbolism of your art obscure. Liturgical art is supposed to clarify, not mystify. If someone ever wrote an article on the hidden meaning of my art, I would be flattered that it should merit such interest, but also dismayed. I don’t want meanings to be hidden, I want them to be apparent.
So, artists, I say to you: give as much information as you can on the painting to instruct people as to why it is there. This goes against the grain for many creative types. In my experience, they don't like giving explanations of the meaning of their works, preferring to keep them hidden behind a shroud of mystery and ambiguity, in order to maintain an aura of intellectual aloofness. In the context of a church, this is inappropriate; we want clarity and transparency. If necessary, add script to the image in the spoken language of those who will see it, and supply an explanation to the patron. For example, write Scriptural quotes, or references and titles not just of the image as a whole, but also of its constituent parts. To take just one small example, this is a wonderful painting of the Baptism of Christ which is appropriate for a baptistery.
For modern Roman Catholic congregations, there could be even more script. The ax and the tree are there to reflect the John the Baptist’s words, “Now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3, 10). Perhaps the biblical reference could be placed next to the symbol. The personifications of the River Jordan and the Red Sea are there to connect this moment to their partings before Moses and Joshua. These events are the bookends of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt, and so are connected to each other and to this event, the fulfillment of that journey. The names Red Sea and River Jordan could be written next to them, as well as a reference to Psalm 113:1-7:
When Israel came out of Egypt, and the sons of Jacob heard no more a strange language, the Lord took Juda for his sanctuary, Israel for his own dominion. The seas fled at the sight they witnessed, backward flowed the stream of Jordan; up leapt, like rams, the startled mountains, up leapt the hills, like yearling sheep. What ailed you, seas, that you fled in terror, Jordan’s stream, what drove thee back? Why did you leap up like rams, you mountains, leap up, you hills, like yearling sheep? Let earth thrill at its Master’s presence; it is he that comes, the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into pools of water, the flint-stone into a springing well.
If you look at details of the Ghent altarpiece above, you will find many painted excerpts from scripture. Today’s Catholic needs more help with this than his 15th century counterpart (I know I do!), so today we should see more writing on our pictures, not less.
As a result, every member of a parish church would become a catechist and an evangelist, one who could give the neophyte or visitor a tour of the church through which he would explain the essential elements of the Faith through the images.
Architecture
Recently I was given a explanation of the design of the Gothic cathedral at Salisbury in England, in which it was pointed out that it was unusual for a non-monastic church to have a covered cloister. It was there, I was told, because of the special nature of the Sarum liturgy, which originated there. Sarum is the old name for Salisbury). It had many processions, which took place in the cloister - a covered walkway built with the English rain in mind! It occurred to me that as liturgical action develops to engage art, this will not only effect the style of art, the content of the images, and the combination thereof which we see in churches; it will also affect the architecture of new churches, just as the Sarum liturgy affected the design of this cathedral. Perhaps if processions are the way, we might see a re-emergence of the cloister or covered walkway. Then we could have a planted garden of Eden in the quadrangle, which would be seen by those who process into the church, where they will be greeted with a pictorial, architectural and musical rendition of the New Jerusalem and paradise restored. Alternatively, we might see new but liturgically authentic architectural developments that characterize our age that are previously unimagined.
Appendix: existing guidelines on art.
The GIRM
318. In the earthly Liturgy, the Church participates, by a foretaste, in that heavenly Liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem, toward which she journeys as a pilgrim, and where Christ is seated at the right hand of God; and by venerating the memory of the Saints, she hopes one day to have some share and fellowship with them.[131] Thus, in sacred buildings images of the Lord, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saints, in accordance with most ancient tradition of the Church, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful[132] and should be so arranged so as to lead the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there. Care should, therefore, be taken that their number not be increased indiscriminately, and moreover that they be arranged in proper order so as not to draw the attention of the faithful to themselves and away from the celebration itself.[133] There should usually be only one image of any given Saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement of a church, as far as images are concerned, provision should be made for the devotion of the entire community as well as for the beauty and dignity of the images.
Canon Law re Sacred Images, 1186-1190, here.
In the US: Built in the Living Stone., Chapter Three
