Artlyst: The Art of St Martin-in-the-Fields

My latest article for Artlyst features the 15-year programme of commissions and loans at St Martin-in-the-Fields which began as part of the renewal of the church undertaken by Eric Parry Architects.

In the article I note that the Bishop of Salisbury Nicholas Holtam, who as Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields began the programme of commissions at St Martin’s, has argued that there has been a renaissance in the relationship between Christianity and the arts; of which these commissions are part. Based on his experience, Holtam suggests that there is an enormous willingness on the part of artists to explore meaning and faith creatively and with imagination. He argues that whilst there might be safety for the Church in accepting only the work of Christian artists, the more important engagement is with good art that respects its Christian context. It makes us bigger people and deepens both our cultural life and the life of faith.

In an earlier article published by Artlyst, I explored the question of whether Caravaggio was a 'good' Christian suggesting that a better question is what makes such a man one of the most significant artists in both art history and Church history.

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Luxury - To You Who Gave Me Hope and Were My Light.