Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-10-13

John Ruskin, the celebrated artist and author
Of " Modern Painters" &C., was recently ap-
pointed Professor Of Art at Oxford University,
in England. From recently published volume,
we make the following abstract of one of his
lectures =
THE RELATION OF ART TO RELIGION.
This involves a three-fold inquiry, LIST, how far
art has been literally inspired. directed by spirit
ual powers apart from the artist 2nd, how far,
if not inspired, it may have been erdted by these
spiritual powers 3rd how far it has ever adj
vanced the cause of the creeds it has been used
to recommend.
For direct inspiration, visions have always
been considered the peculiar channel. Albert
Durer's famous engraving Of the " Knight and
Death (Which suggested Fultlues story of
g Sintram,'o is the transcription of a vivid
dream series of which We're produced by tlat
great artist. But his visionary faculty was a
morbid influence by which his skill was abased
rather than encouraged.
On the contrary the highest and most consist
ent results in arts have been attained by men,
not visionaries, but deliberate designers, and
close observers of the substantial facts of the
every day world. The best artists were not con-
scious of any direct inspiration, and did not
claim any.
The question of the exatation of art by religion
is not touched upon.
Art has done for religious creeds two things !;
it has realized to the eyes, imagined spiritual
persons it has limited their imagined presence
to certain places.
Assume that we believe-and that it is true
that the Madonna is always present to hear and
answer our prayers. 1t is only mind imperfectly
faithful and impatient in its distress, or in ts
dullness craving for more distinct sense OF the
Divinity, that would contract its conception into
the definite figure of a woman wearing blue
or crimson dress, and having fair features, dark
eyes, and gracefully arranged hair
But this poncention having beeu formal in tl,s
mind and having been realized and preserved III
a picture this image will always tend to lead lis
to the thought that the Virgin is present with us
or pleased with us, when she is actually moi
present or not pleased Thus the art makes liz
believe what we would not otherwise have be-
| lieved, and 80 is misapplied. Art has always
ministered to idolatry, whether in heathen oi
| Christian lands, by its setting forth the produc
| tions of human fancy as the true likenesses oi
| spiritual beings.
| In limiting the idea Of Divine presence to par
| ticular localities it has also done harm. Erect
| an altar on village green, enclose portion Of
1 the green with railing and consecrate that ell.
closed space by any service you please still yol
will not lead the villagers easily to believe thai
| God inhabts the space inside the fence, ant
| does not extend His presence to the common
beyond it. But instead of a wooden fence, ,built
| wall pave the interior space roof it over st
| as to make it comparatively dark, and you ma,
| with ease persuade the peasantry that YOU hav,
built a house which Deity inhabiis The effor
ought rather to he to make all places holy, an,
| to look with aversion on the small portion sc
| aside as profane--if such there must be-insteat
of regarding with reverence narrow space en-
| closed as holy. Is it not because we love on
own work better than Ills that we respect luceD
| glass in a cathedral, but not the lucent clouds
that we weave embroidered robes with ingenious
| fingers, and make bright the gilded vaults W,
have beautifully ordained, while yet We have no
considered the heavens the work OF His fingers
nor the stars OF the strange vault which He hal
| ordained.
Cultivate true reverence and admiration. bu
be not moved to either by trivial or false sem
blances.
In reverence is the chief joy AMI power q
life ;--Reyerence for what is pure anil bright il
our own youth; for what is true and tried i'll til,
age of others for all that is gracious among Til
living, great among the dead aud marvellous il
tho Powers that cannot die.