Art shows many parts of the artist. It may express their imagination, their storytelling and emotions, or show their interests. There are many ideas that an artist may express and show, but one theme that is prevalent in history is the expression of the artist's religion. It shows their belief system and inspires great works, and the architecture is also influenced by their faith. An artist's faith can even influence how they express themselves and how they execute their works. One thing is certain, though; art expresses many parts of the artist, and their religion has been a theme that has impacted the history and the making of art.

An artist's religion often inspires them to produce wonderful artworks. Historically, some of the most popular artworks such as "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci and the fresco painting "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo both express important Biblical events in Christianity. Another religion, Judaism, has more emphasis on the Hebrew Bible (known as the Old Testament), and its most popular symbol -the Hanukkiah- is an applied art that is used to celebrate Hanukkah, with one candle lit up every night for eight days -with the ninth candle in the middle to light the others beside it. (Weston, 2011.) These works are well-known and admired, and the religion reflects the themes that the artwork conveys. "The Last Supper" (according to the Cenacolo Vinciano Museum) shows his "multifaceted genius, urge to experiment and inexhaustible curiosity." and it also expresses Jesus' dinner with the Twelve Apostles -capturing the moment when Jesus announces a foreseen betrayal. The expressions on each apostle are expressive, and each gesture points towards the middle as they converse, using the convergence of their body poses to draw the viewer's attention towards Jesus Christ. Additionally, the lighting is placed strategically, with the darker colors in the background and near the edges of the page to draw the attention further. In conclusion, an artist's faith has inspired great works historically, showing much skill and passion in their inspiring works.

Architecture is a form of art that involves the construction and building of structures. It also can express the faith of the artist, and can even mark historical events based on the faith of the owners of the place. For example, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was originally a Christian church. Then, when the Muslims took over the building, the building was altered to reflect their faith, and in the present-day, it is a museum, and the Christian artworks originally in the church are being restored. It shows traces of its history according to the culture of its owners. Churches such as that one are adorned with elaborate decorations to adorn the church, with stained glass, and themes reflecting their beliefs. In different religions, different kinds of buildings are built for the community to focus on their religion -and is often the most important building in said community. While Christianity is practiced in cathedrals or churches, Judaism is practiced in synagogues and is also a house of prayer. So the architecture is also influenced by religion. It is also a reflection of the religion of the artists and builders who use the building to focus on their faith.

Finally, it is important to note that an artist's faith can influence how they express themselves and even how they execute their works. According to the Encyclopedia, religious artworks are distinguished based on three categories; "...iconic (advocacy), aniconic (acceptance), and iconoclastic (denial or rejection)." Iconic artworks directly present a religious figure. Christian art primarily shares this theme, showing religious figures such as Jesus Christ in their works. The second category is aniconic, which is more symbolic and does not use literal proportions to communicate and express ideas. In Buddhism, artists would refrain from expressing the Buddha. And finally, the last kind of religious art is iconoclastic. As stated before in the Encyclopedia, it denies or rejects images entirely. In other words, it works with destruction rather than creation, and destroys any kind of image -literal or figurative. This shows how religion can influence how an artist expresses themselves and how they execute their work.

To sum it up, art shows many parts of the artist, and one theme that is prevalent in history is the expression of the artist's religion. It shows their belief system and inspires great works, and the architecture is also influenced by their faith. An artist's faith can even influence how they express themselves and how they execute their works. From expressing their imagination, their storytelling and emotions, or showing their interests, art shows many parts of their soul. And the artist's religion has been a theme that has impacted the history of art, and as a source of inspiration for creating it.

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Sources:

The Artist Editorial. (2022/2023.) "30 Most Famous Michelangelo Paintings and Sculptures." The Artist Me. https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/30-most-famous-michelangelo-paintings-and-sculptures/

Lesso, Rosie. (2022.) "What is the Meaning Behind Michelangelo's Creation of Adam?"
The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/michelangelo-creation-of-adam-meaning/

"The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo." n.d. www.Michelangelo.org. https://www.michelangelo.org/the-creation-of-adam.jsp

"Roman Catholicism." Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism

"The Creation of Adam." n.d. Sistine Chapel. https://www.thesistinechapel.org/the-creation-of-adam

Weston, Tamara. (2011.) "Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About Hanukkah." TIME MAGAZINE. https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1947041_1947040_194 7057,00.html

"The Hanukkiah (Hanukkah Menorah.)" n.d. My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-hanukkiyah-menorah/

"The Story Behind the Top 10 Most Famous Religious Paintings in Western Art." (2020.)
Kuadros. https://kuadros.com/en-us/blogs/news/las-10-pinturas-religiosas-mas-famosas-del-arte- occidental

"The Last Supper: Leonardo da Vinci [1452-1519]." n.d. Cenacolo Vinciano Museum. https://cenacolovinciano.org/en/museum/the-works/the-last-supper-leonardo-da-vinci-14 52-1519/

"Art and Religion." n.d. Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-m aps/art-and-religion#:~:text=The%20fundamental%20modes%20of%20religious,iconocl astic%20(denial%20or%20rejection).