Jewish atheist lauds Christian masterpiece

This column by Mike Marqusee in the Guardian is well-worth perusing. I was made aware of the story via Iconia. Marqusee is a self-proclaimed “art-loving Jewish atheist” who shares his thoughts on the relatively obscure Isenheim altarpiece in Colmar, France.

For those interested, I’ll let you read for yourself his praise of the artwork by following the above link to the article. I bring the story up here to point out to artists and Christians how powerful art can be and often is. I hope this is encouraging to artists of faith who often lack support from either their own peers in the Church or the art community at large, having to go it alone in essence. I hope the knowledge of how Grunewald’s 600 year old work impressed upon a traveler — with little or no interest (I’m assuming this based on the author’s self-professed atheism) in the faith or people portrayed — spurs Christian painters and sculptors on in their faith and their art.