The art of faith in a world of progress : from transcendence to immanence
Abstract
This thesis examines what the visual art of Christian faith might
reveal, and teach us, about the living art of faith in a world characterised
by progress. The argument focuses on two prominent visual artists from
the nineteenth century - William McTaggart (1835-1910) and William
Dyce (1806 – 1864) - and two late twentieth century painters: Andy
Goldsworthy (b. 1956) and Peter Howson (b. 1958).
The principal contribution then, of the thesis is the sustained
analysis of works of art as sites of religious meaning; works that do not
simply reflect or echo their contexts (although this is clearly the case) but
also, through the particular, may transform our understanding of those
contexts and, in terms of the art of faith, may prophetically offer new
ways of relating to faith in times in which faith is challenged in various
ways. After setting the scene with a substantial treatment of the tensions
in Victorian society (Chapter 1), the thesis then builds its arguments
through close interpretations of the works of William McTaggart
(Chapter 2) and William Dyce (Chapter 3) in the central part of the thesis.
In Chapter 4, the argument moves to the contemporary. After a short
introduction to the secularism, or unattached belief, arguably
characteristic of modern Britain (4.1), the thesis presents a close analysis
of Andy Goldsworthy (4.2) and Peter Howson (4.3). In the conclusion, I
set up a comparison between these two contemporary Scottish artists and
their Victorian forbears.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Description
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