Blog 1

My sophomore year of high school, I was half paying attention in my theology class while our teacher was discussing the transfiguration of Jesus. While mindlessly copying notes from the PowerPoint, my attention was drawn to one particular slide’s accompanying photo. The photo on the slide was Raphael’s Transfiguration and it quickly became one of my favorite pieces of art. Not only is this painting beautiful in my own definition, but it also possesses the three characteristics of beauty described by Hans-Georg Gadamer; playful, symbolic, and festive. While the piece is physically stationary, there are aspects of playfulness in both the portrayed figures, and the painting as a whole. Upon gazing on the upper half of the painting, one will find a glistening figure accompanied by two others ascending into heaven in all white. The upbeat tone of the upper half serves as a striking contrast to the meek bottom which gives off a gloomy feeling with the darker colors, disconsolate faces, and aggressive body language. The painting encourages the eyes of viewers to jump around the large canvas, which is about 13 feet by 9 feet, and soak in all that there is. With so much going on in the piece of art, the painting is able to successfully give off information to the viewer while simultaneously drawing them in. As discussed in class, symbols possess a veiled and unveiled presence to those who view it. Anyone could go to the Vatican, find Raphael’s piece of work, reflect upon it, and walk away with more information regarding the transfiguration of Jesus. While the artwork gives off plenty of details, it provokes a higher level of thinking and contemplation within the viewer. This correlates to Gadamer’s description of festive time in art when he states “When we dwell upon the work, there is no tedium involved, for the longer we allow ourselves, the more it displays its manifold riches to us.” By allowing the painting to metaphorically speak to the viewer, those who view it are able to enter into a timelessness which allows for fuller digestion and understanding of one of the more important beliefs of the Christianity. Similarly to Hans-Georg Gadamer’s, the painting is also festive in terms of Pieper’s definition of festivity. There is an aspect about the Transfiguration that celebrates the heart of life in Jesus Christ while also being a timeless work of art. While looking at the painting, viewers can refrain from “exerting the argumentative intellect” and can have their thoughts “rest on whatever manifests itself”. With this two way street, the painting is able to take the viewer out of whatever context they are in, speak to them in a timeless manner, and impose any desired message upon them. This satisfies Pieper who believes that “True festivity cannot be imagined as residing anywhere but in the realm of activity that is meaningful in itself”. With Raphael’s Transfiguration possessing Gademar’s three characteristics of beauty and Pieper’s description of festivity, it is easy to see why I choose one of my more favorite pieces of art for the prompt. The painting draws in viewers, gives knowledge to those who see it, and possesses a striking beauty that is rarely found in today’s society.