The Expedition

After an extensive study into ancient art that spans centuries, the Archeological Society of Geneva College has found multiple depictions of miracles in the Bible. These miracles may be classified simply as supernatural acts of God in the Bible; therefore they are not limited solely to those done by Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. The works of art that have been found use mediums ranging from 4^th century frescos in dark catacombs to elaborate gold mosaics of the Byzantine Era and beyond. This study has taken into account the many different portrayals of miracles in art throughout the ages; the reasons behind the artist’s hand, the message being portrayed, and the many different mediums used.  

Art has changed exponentially throughout the generations and this is almost entirely due to the changing culture of the time. As empires rise and fall, as new religions come and old religions go, and as the religions that are present change as the culture around them changes, so also does the art of the period. During ancient Greece and Ancient Roman times the art was primarily of the gods of the era. Many frescos were abstract; the figures in them would be portrayed as if they were not taking up space so as to show the relationship with the divine. As Christianity began to take a public form in the Roman Empire, due to Constantine, the art changed to portray many Biblical characters and stories. “They [Ancient Greek artists] created the means to communicate the ideals of Christianity as it changed and became more public. These anonymous artists, at once conventional and innovative, helped effect a transition from the ancient to the medieval world” (Art Past Art Present, 155).

This brings us to the portrayal of Biblical miracles in the Bible; however, this is not to say that before this time miracles were not portrayed in art. As we will see in many of the individual blogs, there were many frescos made before Christianity became legal. However, after the acceptance of Christianity and the start of the Catholic Church the portrayal of miracles in art began to multiply. Even after Christian art became more prominent the style of the art still changed over the years. The figure of Jesus progressed from being the Good Shepard to the powerful ruler, and eventually it became more common for the characters to have physical presence in the fresco or mosaic instead of being abstract.

According the Council of Trent the portrayal of miracles, especially in the church or in the catacombs was a way of bringing those who saw them closer to God and salvation during their time of worship. “The Mysteries of our Redemption, portrayed by paintings or other representations,” are to keep revolving in the minds of the people, “but also because the miracles which God has performed by means of the saints , and their salutary examples, are set before the eyes of the faithful; that so they may give God thanks for those things; may order their own lives and manners in imitation of the saints; and may be excited to adore and love God, and to cultivate piety” (Council of Trent, 84). They did not want art to be used as anything to be worshiped, as some used to do, but rather as a tool to create a mindset of adoration, love and piety for God.

In addition to bringing the viewer closer in their relationship with Christ, the art was also used as a way or showing the miraculous stories of the Bible to those common people who were illiterate. The continuous narrative is a perfect example of how this could happen. In The Sacrifice of Isaac, found on the Gates of Paradise, it shows the different progressions of the story in the different portions of the panel. With this any onlooker would be able to “read” the story as it unfolded on the door.

Throughout this blog our archeologists will explain the many pieces of art they have uncovered and the meanings and history behind them. They will discuss how the art has changed; the meaning of the art, their own personal responses and in some cases the history of the artist himself. These pieces of art are found all over Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy and there are also some from as far north as Paris, France. It has been a great adventure and truly a growing experience as we have drawn closer to the study of ancient art and its meanings.

Bibliography

Rome Reader. Council of Trent. Geneva College. 2010-2011. Published by Geneva College.

Wilkins, David, Schultz, Bernard, Linduff, Katheryn. Art Past Art Present. Sixth Edition. Laurence King Publishing. London. 2009.