Church And State In Art

Vic Biorseth, http://www.Thinking-Catholic-Strategic-Center.com

The Church and State in Art page documents the close relationship between faith and law in America. Washington D.C. is likely the best place in America to go to see typically early American expressions of Church and State in Art, due not only to the quality, but the vast quantity. Much may be learned about a given culture by observing the nature, the quality, and detecting cultural consistency in the art it produced, whether in paint, stone, music, dance, drama, literature or architecture.

Consistency in art tells us much about the core values of the society of a given period. Whenever you look at art, including the art on this page, consider the people, their culture, and the period it came from, and compare the art to the art of other periods, including this one. Then meditate upon which culture appeared to be on the rise and which in decline, when compared to each other.

The history of the blending of religion, or at least of religious morality, and law is recorded in the art and architecture of Washington D.C. Many non-Jewish, non-Christian characters and symbols are depicted, representing historical developments such as the code of Hamorabi, the Justinian Code, etc. Significantly, no characters, symbols or representations are presented more often or more prominently than the Judao-Christian Ten Commandments.

They are depicted most often as two stone tablets inscribed with the Roman numerals I through X; occasionally as one tablet numbered I through X; sometimes with the inscription LEX. This is representative of the Book of the Law. Historical figures are shown holding one or another form of the Book of the Law, sometimes in the form of a book, sometimes a tablet, sometimes reading or holding a scroll and sometimes – most significantly – holding five (5) scrolls, representing the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. This is, definitively, The Law.

These depictions proclaim the principle that, whatever happens, The Law does not change; The Law is fixed forever, and may be depended upon.

The Ten Commandments on the outer bronze doors of the United States Supreme Court building.

The Ten Commandments ornately carved into the oak inner doors of the United States Supreme Court building.

Moses, seated, holding the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, on the outside upper rear fascia of the United States Supreme Court building.

Moses with the ten Commandments, on the frieze facing the bench in the United States Supreme Court room.

Moses the Law Giver on the West exterior facade of the United States Supreme Court building.

Moses and the Ten Commandments, among other depictions that appear eight times in the Great Hall of the United States Supreme Court building.

Moses, holding the Ten Commandments, in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.

Another view of Moses in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.

The Ten Commandments, prominently displayed in front of the District Court building.

The Ten Commandments, carefully inlaid into the floor pattern of the National Archives building.

Moses the Law Giver depicted in the US House of Representatives Chamber.

The famouse Praying George Washington stained glass window in the United States Capital building chapel.

The ornate and famous Adams Prayer Mantle inside the American White House.

Desoto, depicted in The Discovery of the Mississippi, in the U.S. Capital. (A priest performs a liturgical rite while another handles Incense, as a large Crucifix is raised.)

Frieze depicting The Burial of Desoto in the Mississippi, in the U.S. Capital building.

Our national religious foundational ethic, artistically displayed in the Rotunda of the Library of Congress.

One of several religious commemorations inside the Washington Monument.

Another religious commemoration inside the Washington Monument.

Some of Jefferson's words inscribed inside the Jefferson Memorial.

Pierre Marquette, with Crucifix and Rosary, Inside the U.S. Capital building.

Artwork titled "Knowledge" - in the North Hall of the Library of Congress.

Artwork titled "Religion" - inside the United States Capital building.

Some of Lincoln's words, inscribed inside the Lincoln Memorial.

Artwork titled "The Baptism of Pocohontas," inside the United States Capital building.

Image of Emperor Charlemagne, on frieze inside the United States Supreme Court building.

Image of Mohammed, on frieze inside the United States Supreme Court building.

Washington, depicted at Valley Forge, hanging in the U. S. Capital. Once upon a time men were not too proud to pray on their knees.

Artwork titled "Liberty" at worship, resting on the Ten Commandments, outside the Reagan Library.

Christmas tree ornament, inside the White House.

Just a few of the many, many U. S. postage stamps with religious themes. The Church and State in Art remains a contemporary artistic theme in America.

The Church and State in Art page shows in a graphic way the close relationship between Judeo-Christian moral norms and civil law, as held by the founders, and as held to today by a significant majority of American citizens. Elsewhere in this website, this theme is related to subject after subject; it is, indeed, at the root of all social standards, social arguments and political issues. The Church and State in Art page puts it all into a nutshell.

For a really beautiful pictorial directory of memorials, monuments, statues & other outdoor art in Washington D.C., our most monument-filled city, visit Washington DC Memorials (Opens in a New Window).

Reference Material

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