Rome 2017: (17) Disputation over the Holy Sacrament

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Schede/SDRs/SDRs_03_01_019.html

As philosophy flourished the tension between religion and human intellect exploded, The Disputation over the Holy Sacrament is a physical example of the conflict therein. This cultural landscape signified the split between the heavens and the earth. Before this painting, most other paintings were painted where the heavens and earth were one with each other. Angles and gods would interact and intermingle with emperors, biblical leaders, soldiers and civilizations. This painting depicts the sky as a division between the heavens and the earth. Signifying that due to philosophy and human innovation, humans no longer saw the need to call on the heavens. Many human

philosophers began to rise up and believe that the authority should be given to them instead of the Divine. This painting also signifies that humans became more concerned with their interactions with the natural order and human nature, instead of the influence and the involvement of the divine. The Divine is portrayed as more holy and untouchable than in other paintings. This cultural landscape signifies a big switch as the church and religion began to play a smaller role and philosophy and politics began to be more influential and powerful. This painting begins the catalyst of changed power.