Christian Arts...

"Christian art" is a term which, while it always applies to the fine arts and their creations only, is nevertheless used in more than one meaning which we must distinguish in this encyclopedia. Most frequently we designate by Christian art, the arts in as much as we find them in the service of the Church. So far as they serve either to construct or to embellish houses of worship, the homes of the consecrated servants of God, monasteries, convents, the last resting-places of the faithful.In this sense, Christian art is also called ecclesiastical art, and we find it convenient to treat this subject under the title ECCLESIASTICAL ART. But Christian art is sometimes also used to denote the fine arts and their creations, in as much as they are in harmony with Christian ideals and principles. In this regard Christian art will be treated under the several special headings into which its divisions naturally fall.

Here in the Philippines, there are Churches like the one above, the Lipa Cathedral Church that are considered a heritage and historical in our history. It was built in Romanesque tradition with a circular dome, massive walls and balconies. It is the center of worship in the historic town of Lipa, Batangas. Lipa Cathedral was originally built to honor St. Sebastian. Its first grand concept was completed in 1865 but, after the devastation of World War II, it underwent massive reconstruction. This beautiful church has an architecture in which columns and light play. The domes of the church and the bell tower have intricate moldings and arched stained-glass windows.

Christian art hasn't affected me in terms of doing illustrations. Now I can somehow adapt ideas that I have learned about the different styles and perceptions of the artists that contributed lots of artworks from this era. I am now familiar with the Christian artworks such as their churches, sculptures and their paintings, I can tell myself that every people has different beliefs that they practiced on their daily lives.