Renaissance Cosmology and Spirit

I watched a bit of a program over the weekend about Italian artists of the spanning the period of Renaissance and into the Reformation and Counter-Reformation produced by the Annenberg Foundation. (BTW, what a hilarious phrase, "Counter-reformation." But that's another blog post for another day.)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away in grad school, I wrote a paper on Giotto. Don't ask me how I remember that or the significance of Giotto. That was in another lifetime.

The show highlighted several painters, their styles, what they represented. One of the interesting stories surrounded Veronese and his painting "The Feast in the House of Levi." It started out as The Last Supper. However, he was called before the Inquisition for including several questionable characters and images in the painting. he was ordered to change the painting. Instead, he changed the name. that satisfied the Inquisitors. Names mean a lot, eh? Same images. Different setting. What has changed? Everything or nothing?

Meanwhile, one of the themes among painters and architects was their view of cosmology. A Harmonious universe in which everything had its place. This is still a prominent cosmological theme in various cultures -- certainly in traditional Chinese culture and cosmology.

Ironically, in many Christian versions of the story the music of the spheres has a sour note. namely, its view of sin, original sin, and what it calls evil. Ah yes...another blog post for yet another day.

In this cosmological view as presented by Italian painters, we see a movement from their perception of the lowest to the highest. Animals to humans to angelic beings to God. The theme is manifested in various pieces, and it always is depicted by an upward movement.

Ok. Not so revolutionary or revelatory in itself.

Here's the interesting and ironic feature. The Italian painters' cosmology entertained the idea that the hierarchy moved from physical to spiritual (as they perceived it). However, their understanding of this cosmology needed a physical representation (incarnation). Spirit finds concrete expression. The "highest" form depend on the "lowest" form.

They are all interconnected, and spirit pervades all forms in its own way. Each is unique, yet none fully represents the allness of spirit. What is thought to be the least is every bit as essential as what is thought to be the most.

For the Renaissance mindset -- and perhaps in societies like caste India -- this order is not to be tampered with. The structured universe is a way to reinforce social strata. You belong here becuase this is where God wants you. So don't try to improve your lot.

However, an alternative approach is: "You and all things are spirit-expressing-itself. Honor all. be kind and compassionate to all. Respect all. Seek to improve the physical condition of all. being kind and mindful to the lowest is being kind and mindful towrd the highest."