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Famous Religious Artworks and Their Influence on Art History

Last Updated: March 28, 2024
Written by: Elisabeth Larson Koehler
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Religious artworks, with their masterful depictions and stirring narratives, have been a beacon of inspiration throughout the ages. Shaping not only the spiritual landscape but also influencing the very fabric of the art world. In this in-depth exploration, we’ll unravel the multifaceted tapestry of religious art, shedding light on why it’s more than just a display of faith—it’s a profound muse that every art enthusiast can draw from.

The Role and Purpose of Religious Artworks

Here is a very old Christian church in Rome that depicts many wall paintings of religious significance. Religious art goes back a long way and therefore is important to understand it better and how it influenced art in general over time.

Religious art has a rich and complex history deeply intertwined with the evolution of Christianity and other faiths. Artists of the past found their patrons in the clergy and the aristocracy, creating works that adorned the grand cathedrals and served as windows to the divine for the illiterate faithful. The intrinsic purpose of religious art extended beyond mere aesthetic expression. It was an educational tool and a means of spiritual elevation.

Commissioning by the Church and Artistic Influence

Religious artwork by Giotto — Here is a painting by Giotto, Ognissanti Madonna, created in 1306. Photographed at its location in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. It is a painting that was commissioned and funded by the church. It is a very early painting, but the artists religious works had deep impacts on the development of painting.

To commission an artist to create a religious piece was an act that went beyond funding. It was a declaration of the institution’s worldview and values. The church, as the primary patron of the arts for centuries, had a profound influence on the styles, subjects, and even the techniques employed by artists. From the richly symbolic works of Duccio to the luminous frescoes by Fra Angelico, religious art was a bridge between human creativity and divine inspiration.

The Functionality of Religious Art

This religious artwork fresco by Massaccio at the Brancacci chapel is an excellent example of biblical narratives shared through painting. This way of telling an entire story through one painting is called a continuous narrative. Here you see just a partial view of the fresco, however if you look up this work you will see how they all tell the story of the life of Peter the apostle.

The purpose of religious art within the sacred space was to bring to life the stories of the Scriptures and to illustrate the moral teachings of the church. During a time when the Bible was inaccessible to most in its written form, artworks such as these became the ‘Bible of the poor,’ the stained-glass windows, sculptures, and altarpieces transforming houses of worship into galleries of piety and contemplation.

Significance of Religious Art

Religious art is not a footnote but a foundational chapter in the vast tome of art history. Its prevalence and influence cannot be overstated, as it laid the groundwork for many of the art movements and innovations that followed.

Impact of Religious Artworks on the Development of Art History

Religious artworks on display by Raphael in the Galleria Borghese in Rome — Here we see a religious painting by Raphael in the center of the wall at the Galleria Borghese. Originally this painting was intended for a religious setting, but today it is included with all manners of art. Even if a painting was originally religious doesn’t mean that you can’t consider it in the exact same light as secular art. A painting should be studied for its abstract elements – color, light, and geometry. These things are just as strong (if not stronger) in religious art as secular art.

Discussing art history without the context of religious art is akin to reading a story with missing chapters. The Renaissance, Baroque, and many others were significant art movements that found their impetus in religious art, as it variously provided the thematic material and the institutional support necessary for their flourishing. The legacy of religious art continues to permeate contemporary creations, from echoes of the medieval color palette to the narrative structures inspired by biblical storytelling.

Exploration of Famous Religious Artworks

In this esteemed gallery of renowned religious paintings, step into history’s hallowed halls and gaze upon the works that have stood the test of time. Each masterpiece is a testament to the enduring power of religious art to captivate, challenge, and illuminate.

The Grandeur of Early Religious Masters

Duccio’s ‘Maesta’ in the above image served as an altarpiece for the cathedral in Siena. This painting was important in the development of art. As it led artists away from the stiffer representations of Byzantine art to more nature real life representations. So this religious artwork had a direct impact on the development of art.

Fra Angelico’s ‘Annunciation’ is smaller in size but invites us into the sacred moment depicted in the painting. This piece has not just influenced artists throughout history but also today’s residents of Cortona, Italy. A quick walk around the town will show you recreations of the painting done by the town’s current residents in shop windows and nativity scenes. It is a work that has transcended time.

Annunciation of Cortona by Fra Angelico. Photographed at its location in Cortona.

Religious Artworks or Human Drama?

Beyond its religious narrative, ‘The Last Supper’ by da Vinci captures a profound sense of human struggle and story. Each disciple reacts to the news of Christ’s coming betrayal in a deeply personal way, offering artists of varying faiths and backgrounds a template to explore human emotion and psychological depth in their own work.

Leonardo da Vinci the last supper. This work famously has not held up well over time due to the experimental nature of the processes da Vinci used in its creation. The materials used were not archival and therefore led to it deteriorating more and more over time. Although this instance was unfortunate, most of the time experimenting and growing led to better work. The commissions given by the religious establishments are what allowed artists to develop their skills more over time.

Combining Religious themes with Real Life Human Emotion

This transition from narrative to human drama became a pivotal shift in artistic focus. Prior to ‘The Last Supper,’ art that depicted religious scenes often did so with a degree of detachment. Da Vinci’s masterpiece, however, humanizes the divine, giving the audience a window into the characters’ internal worlds.

Religious artworks creating possibilities

This new approach to storytelling opened the door for artists to explore a broader spectrum of subjects with an emotional depth that was relatable, regardless of the scene’s context

Monumental Religious Artworks (Wedding at Cana)

The scope of Veronese’s influence reaches across the centuries. His grandiose compositions inspired the movement towards Baroque, where emotions were depicted with magnified theatricality. The very essence of Baroque art is rooted in the dynamism and narrative elements that Veronese so effectively showcased in “The Wedding at Cana.”

Wedding at Cana by Veronese. This larger than life sized work measures 22 x 32 ft. You can enter into the work. It is a very complex composition with many elements. However at the center of the work we see the main figure – Jesus of Nazareth.

Art would continue to evolve, and the elaborate scenes and grand décor of the Rococo period owe much to the precedent set by Veronese. This shift towards lighter subjects and pastel colors without sacrificing the richness of detail can be traced back to the Venetian master and his pivotal religious painting.

Flemish and Dutch Religious Artwork and the Sacred Ordinary

Ghent altarpiece by Jan Van Eyck. a monumental religious artwork by the artist — This triptych “Ghent Altarpiece” by Jan van Eyck is a large and monumental work in the history of art.

In the vast tapestry of art history, few works have rippled through the fabric of time quite like Jan Van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece. This iconic polyptych not only heralded the use of groundbreaking techniques. But also laid the groundwork for a shift in the motives, and perhaps even the soul, of religious and secular art.

Before the Ghent Altarpiece, tempera was the reigning medium in painting. But Van Eyck’s adroit utilization of oil-based paints revolutionized the art world. Oil paint, with its lustrous allure and slow-drying properties, offered artists a more forgiving medium. This innovation heralded a new age of art making, enabling both the realist and the visionary.

Rembrandt’s Religious Artwork

Return of the prodigal son by Rembrandt a religious artwork by the Dutch artist — The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt

The Old Masters were revered for their skill, but with Rembrandt, another layer of admiration was added. A profound connection with the emotional realities of life. He and his contemporaries redefined what it meant to be a ‘master’. Not as one who meticulously replicates the physical world. But as one who captures the unseen and often unspoken nuances of human experience.

Artists from the avant-garde to the post-impressionists have looked to Rembrandt’s oeuvre. Not just for technical cues but for a primer in eliciting raw emotion through art. His characters are not mere subjects; they are conduits for the human condition.

How to Use Religious Painting Themes in Your Own Work

The resonance that religious art evokes is testament to its universal appeal and enduring power. Whether you are an artist, a lover of art, or simply someone seeking inspiration, here are ways to assimilate the spirit of religious art into your own contemporary creations.

Bridge the Gap Between Ancient Narrative and Modern Sensibility

Take inspiration from the powerful storylines of religious narratives and reinterpret them in a contemporary context. Consider how the timeless messages can be conveyed through the lens of modern societal structures and individual experiences.

Learn from the Masters to Hone Your Craft

A master copy drawing sketch after the painting “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne” by Leonardo da Vinci. Whether you are religious or not doesn’t matter at all when it comes to studying religious artworks. There is an enormous amount you can learn from doing painting or drawing sketches after religious artworks.

Studying the techniques employed in renowned religious artworks is more than a historical exercise. It’s a practical way to improve your own artistry. Observe the use of light, the composition, and the emotive qualities that make these works unparalleled. Then apply and adapt these lessons to your style.

Consider the Symbolism of Religious Artworks and Its Modern Equivalents

The more you look, the more you will notice how the compositions of religious painting have an impact on contemporary art today. The famous subject matter – madonna and child – is used throughout many religious art works. And can be seen in modern work as well – as seen on the left in the image above.

Explore the allegorical and symbolic aspects of religious art and map them to contemporary themes and motifs. This exercise doesn’t just reveal the layers of meaning present in iconic artworks. But it also encourages a deeper understanding of the essence that makes them timeless.

How Past Religious Artworks Inform the Future

Religious art endures not merely as a relic of the past but as a conduit through which the art world draws wisdom and inspiration. Its influence is inescapable, as it is woven into the very fabric of the cultural tapestry that artists continue to add to. To appreciate religious art is to honor not only the spiritual legacy it represents but also the innumerable ways it continues to inspire and elevate the world of art.

In closing, religious art beckons us to not just observe, but to participate in the ongoing conversation between humanity and the divine–between creator and creation. It is a heritage worth preserving, celebrating, and, most importantly, carrying forward in our own creative pursuits. By doing so, we give new life to the old, and in turn, find our own place in the grand narrative of art.

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