In this busy church week, I decided to stay home the evening of spy Wednesday as a rest from wearying crowds. And I wanted in the quiet to see what you had on offer.
Three cheers for what I found. One cheer is for the Substack piece/ Holy Week series. I’m woefully unschooled in the visual arts, so it is delightful to be educated on a figure who is often overlooked by those more in the know than I am. Since it is unlikely I will ever see a Tissot Bible, viewing the images relevant to this day, with his commentary, added a new, unfamiliar visual and visionary dimension to the week’s observance.
The second cheer is for the Religion Unplugged article. I was fascinated by the story of Tissot the man and his art, his influences, loves, and contradictions, his technique. And I loved the leisurely pace of the writing, as if from an earlier time, which allows for a thorough treatment, and invites your readers into a different mode of quiet attention during a sacred season.
The third cheer is for the religious, specifically Catholic point of view in both pieces. I’m a newcomer not only in visual art but also in trying to grow into a Catholic point of view. In my new convert’s enthusiasm I sometimes find myself struggling to do what the long article does, and does well: you do justice to the subject under discussion with the right measure of firmness in the truth, and cautious generosity in the presence of human frailty.
In this busy church week, I decided to stay home the evening of spy Wednesday as a rest from wearying crowds. And I wanted in the quiet to see what you had on offer.
Three cheers for what I found. One cheer is for the Substack piece/ Holy Week series. I’m woefully unschooled in the visual arts, so it is delightful to be educated on a figure who is often overlooked by those more in the know than I am. Since it is unlikely I will ever see a Tissot Bible, viewing the images relevant to this day, with his commentary, added a new, unfamiliar visual and visionary dimension to the week’s observance.
The second cheer is for the Religion Unplugged article. I was fascinated by the story of Tissot the man and his art, his influences, loves, and contradictions, his technique. And I loved the leisurely pace of the writing, as if from an earlier time, which allows for a thorough treatment, and invites your readers into a different mode of quiet attention during a sacred season.
The third cheer is for the religious, specifically Catholic point of view in both pieces. I’m a newcomer not only in visual art but also in trying to grow into a Catholic point of view. In my new convert’s enthusiasm I sometimes find myself struggling to do what the long article does, and does well: you do justice to the subject under discussion with the right measure of firmness in the truth, and cautious generosity in the presence of human frailty.
Blessings also to you this Holy Week!
Please forgive any missed typos.