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Art and statuary have always played an important part in the Church and this goes back to the early Church when the majority of Christians could not read or write. The only way in which they could understand and learn about the Church, its beliefs and teachings and those in it, was through either stories or images.

Statues and art are also used in worship. They act as a reminder of faith and devotion. Having statues visible in places of worship means that the saints and Christ are never far from the thoughts of the faithful.

Sistine Chapel

One of the most famous works of Christian art can be seen in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The ceiling and walls of the chapel depict nine different scenes from the Bible, the most famous of which is The Creation of Adam. It was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.

The image portrays some of the key Catholic beliefs about the creation story as told in the book of Genesis. The image shows God as the all-powerful creator, identifies humanity as the children of God, and that humans are made in the image and likeness of the God.

Statues

Statues are another form of art that feature prominently in the Catholic Church. Statues serve as reminders of key events, beliefs and individuals in church history.

Statues served, and still serve, as reminders of the saints and Christ and how they set an example of how people should live. Some statues tell stories of events, such as Michelangelo's Pieta. This allows an individual to gain an insight into the biblical accounts. Stained glass windows are another way of displaying biblical events and stories.

The statue of Michelangelo's Pieta, which is based in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, depicts the Virgin Mary taking Jesus down from the cross. It depicts the sorrow of a mother cradling her child.