The Bible and the Art

One of the aims of the Foundation Studium Academicum is to bring closer the word of Bible to the people through the art.

 “The conference aimed to serve this purpose, where Miklós Jakobovits - rewarded artist with Munkácsy prize - by accepting our invitation will introduce us in the world of Bible through a lecture” - said Elemér Szatmári - the vice president of the Foundation welcoming the audience in the Posticum’s assembly room.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worked all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” In the biblical introduction Béla Csernák - member of the leadership of the Foundation - asked from God his bless upon this conference by praying and reading the verses of I. Ch. 12,4-7.  

In the introductory words Miklós Jakobovits has expressed his delightness that he can speak in front of such a populous audience about those saint thoughts, which the artists tried to express in their work of art. 

With the help of the lecturer we tried to near - in the pre-renaissance epoch - to those saints, Christian and devotional attitudes as artists approached to the sanctity, to the Bible and to the higher transcendent thoughts.   

 “This is quite difficult - said the artist - because this question was differently approached in each era in case, but we will nevertheless try to analyze this process.”

He said that for him it became recently evident the recognition of the fact that beside the liturgical relevance of the word and music, the work of the brush and the marvellous colour combination artists use, can be up to an evangelisation.

The artist presented with enthusiasm many artworks, more or less known by the audience, emphasizing whereas their style characteristics.

In each era and in each artwork the colour, the forms, the rhythm, the proportions, the contours, through which the artists have produced a special atmosphere had always as a result a new world - said the lecturer.

Barnabás Balogh - Board member of the Foundation - thanked to Miklós Jakobovits, that he accepted to be the guide in the journey through the world of the arts. With his professional introduction he helped us to admire these artists in a different way.

The discussion in form of questions and answers included topics such like: the usage of different skin colour of the biblical figures; the definition of the educational effects and responsibility of the art; the style of the nowadays artworks with or without limitation.

The discussion reflected the friendly atmosphere developed during the presentation thanks not only to the lecturer but to the participants too.

It was not useless this effort, because what we could hear not only awake our respect and interest toward the art but strengthen the diversity of the respect toward God and his reason of existence - said Barnabás Balogh in his final words.