New
New
Lesson 5 of 6
How Christians use art to show faith
I can describe different examples of how Christians use art to express belief.
Lesson 5 of 6
New
New
How Christians use art to show faith
I can describe different examples of how Christians use art to express belief.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Christians have represented their beliefs in art for many centuries. This includes modern artists painting today.
- We do not know what Jesus looked like. We know he lived as a first century Jew in Palestine.
- Many Christians throughout the world represent Jesus from within their own culture.
- Sometimes Christians use art to challenge established views.
Keywords
Incarnate - embodiment of God in human form
Biblical - ideas contained in the bible
Challenge - to dispute the truth or validity of an idea
Common misconception
We know what Jesus looked like. The white Jesus seen in stained glass windows is an authentic representation of Jesus.
We do not know what Jesus looked like. Artists all over the world can paint or represent Jesus from within their own cultures.
You could liaise with your teacher in charge of art and see if you can use any questioning techniques used in art lessons to appreciate meaning in pieces of art in this lesson.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
Download quiz pdf
5 Questions
Q1.In an Orthodox church you will often find art in the form of ...
In an Orthodox church you will often find art in the form of ...
Q2.Many Orthodox and Catholic Christians will __________ icons and statues.
Many Orthodox and Catholic Christians will __________ icons and statues.
worship
idolise
Q3.For many Muslims it is considered forbidden to produce __________ art.
For many Muslims it is considered forbidden to produce __________ art.
abstract
any
Q4.What might you commonly see in many mosques?
What might you commonly see in many mosques?
paintings
landscapes
sculptures
Q5.Which statement best fits how Christians view art?
Which statement best fits how Christians view art?
All Christians think art can help them express their beliefs.
No Christians use art to help express their beliefs.
Assessment exit quiz
Download quiz pdf
5 Questions
Q1.What does the word incarnate mean?
What does the word incarnate mean?
Jesus dying on the cross
Jesus coming from the Middle East
Q2.Match the word to the definition.
Match the word to the definition.
embodiment of God in human form
ideas contained in the Bible
to dispute the truth or validity of an idea
Q3.African artists may paint Jesus as African because ...
African artists may paint Jesus as African because ...
Jesus was actually from Africa
there is only one correct way to draw Jesus
Q4.What Christian belief does this artwork show?
What Christian belief does this artwork show?
baptism
forgiveness
Q5.Sometimes Christians use art to __________ established views.
Sometimes Christians use art to __________ established views.
support
explain
Q4 Pittman, Lauren Wright. A Choice, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57082