1.4.3: Worship and Ritual
- Page ID
- 257176
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_Frontal_d'altar_d'Avia_-_Museu_Nacional_d'Art_de_Catalunya.jpg?revision=1&size=bestfit&width=550&height=339)
Altar frontal from Avià, mixed media on wood panel, 107 x 177 x 7.5 cm, circa 1200 AD
This medieval alter piece from the church of Santa Maria d'Avià (Spain), features Mary and her son Jesus in the center section, surrounded by scenes from Jesus' childhood. The ability to read and access to books was not as common in our current world as it was in the Middle Ages. Imagine a world without electricity, computers, or even readily accessible books — works like these, rich in strong and vibrant colors and metallic material, perhaps illumined by candlelight, must have been wonderful to see. Presented in church settings where they could view the story with their own eyes and meditate upon its significance, the lives of common people were greatly enriched by having access to such images. Here, the content of the work, the early story of Jesus, is what makes the category of function most obviously Worship and Ritual. We could and should discuss further the use of primary colors, the bold use of line giving the figure's a cartoon-like style, the directional forces, unity and variety, how the figures of Christ and Mary are emphasized, and so on. But whatever those may be, the main purpose of this work, largely evident by its subject matter and original location, is for spiritual practices.