The Triumph of Beauty

Elizabeth Lev, art historian and author of How Catholic Art Saved the Faith, discusses the real role that art and beauty played in the Counter-Reformation, as well as the crucial role that it plays in the world today. The success of evangelization does not rely solely on defending and explaining the matters of the spirit or the intellect, but on the presentation of the Beauty that is God in the world. Elizabeth explains why this exploration of beauty is as vital today as it was in the 16th century.

Questions Covered:

• 14:16 - I don’t understand why icons are so treasured when they appear to be so ugly.
• 21:00 - When I see representations of St. Joseph, he is depicted as an old man, I wonder if this depiction was decided by Church tradition or the painters themselves?
• 29:46 - Can you talk a little bit about Michelangelo’s faith?
• 34:04 - How can counter-reformation art save the faith? Art is too flexible to do that.
• 44:23 - My favorite artist is El Greco. What do you think about his art?
• 46:05 - You said earlier that art had been dumbed down and cheapened for masses. What are your thoughts about sacred music? Should there be a return to more beautiful music?