Sacred Art

The Latest

Martin Earle, a sacred artist who specializes in works for churches and the liturgy, told CNA that one should not mistake an artistic revival for a simple re-creation of the past.

‘The religion of the Incarnation’: Catholic artists reflect on the necessity of beauty

Mar 17, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Despite the artistic lack in recent decades, there appears now to be a growing resurgence in the Catholic artistic world. Read more

Workers at the baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica.

PHOTOS: Restoration of Bernini’s baldacchino begins in St. Peter’s Basilica

Feb 27, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Workers will scale the scaffolding surrounding the 92-feet-high canopy each day to meticulously clean the dust and grime that has... Read more

A triptych of Pentecost with Mary at the center in the Temple by Mattie Karr at Holy Name Parish in Kansas City, Kansas.

Art as a leap of faith: Kansas artist quits job to paint murals to revitalize parish

Feb 22, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Mattie Karr took a leap of faith into full-time sacred art beginning with two 15-foot-tall triptychs of the descent of... Read more

Ukrainian refugee and artist Serhii Kolodka in his studio at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, where he is putting the finishing touches on two large icons destined for Holy Spirit Parish in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Ukraine iconographer and artist paints history while it’s still unfolding

Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, has supported more than 1,000 refugees since the war... Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHOTOS: Discover 8 beautiful images of the Virgin Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica

May 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

From Michelangelo’s Pieta to a 12th-century painting, St. Peter’s Basilica contains priceless sacred art depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more

The renowned Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s famous sculpture "Salvator Mundi" (Savior of the World) is on display at Rome's airport.

A sculpture of Jesus at Rome’s airport is taking travelers by surprise

Apr 20, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

The next time you are flying through Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport you can see Jesus at Terminal 1. Read more

The exhibition on "Spain and the Hispanic World" features an opulent vision of the Flight into Egypt by an unknown 18th-century Peruvian artist. The work is from the Hispanic Society of America.

Catholicism makes a comeback in London

Mar 4, 2023

By Lucien de Guise

It’s not often that you see Catholic culture featured at the city’s major museums. Read more

Benedict XVI’s coffin exits St. Peter’s Basilica beneath an image of Christ’s resurrection on the morning of his funeral Jan. 5, 2022

The story behind the image hanging at Benedict XVI’s funeral 

Jan 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The image, which hung in front of the central entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica, appears to be a copy of... Read more

"The Carrying of the Cross" by the artist Titian is one of the paintings featured in the new book "Jesus in Art and Literature."

Seeing with the eye of faith: encountering Jesus through great works of art

Dec 29, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

Pierre-Marie Dumont talks to CNA about his new book, “Jesus in Art and Literature.” Read more

A detail from Francisco de Zurbarán’s painting “The Immaculate Conception” (1628–1630)

Explore the Immaculate Conception through art in video series on faith and beauty

Dec 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

Benedictine College is kicking off a new video series today on art and faith with a video celebrating today’s solemnity... Read more

“The Mother of the Great Steppe" by Dosbol Kasymov.

Pope Francis blesses icon depicting Mary and Jesus as native Kazakhs

Sep 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis on Thursday blessed an icon depicting Mary and the Child Jesus as native Kazakhs, entrusting the Church in... Read more

Kazakh artist Dosbol Kasymov works on the icon “Mother of the Great Steppe” in advance of Pope Francis’ Sept. 13-15 trip to Kazakhstan.

Artist paints Kazakh Mary and Child for only Marian shrine in Kazakhstan

Sep 6, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Kazakh artist is creating possibly the first-ever painting of Mary and the Child Jesus as native Kazakhs; it will... Read more

The Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel was consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption: 5 things to know

Aug 14, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

The chapel derives its name from the man who consecrated it: Pope Sixtus IV, who served as the Roman Pontiff... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Diakonia of Beauty, a group dedicated to celebrating sacred art, on Feb. 17, 2022.

Pope Francis: 'The world needs beauty more than ever'

Feb 17, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope met with a French Catholic group dedicated to supporting artists and celebrating sacred art, architecture, poetry, and music. Read more

Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim Crucifixion (1512-16)

How Catholics can be inspired by art during Holy Week

Apr 9, 2020

By Perry West

As churches and museums remain closed, Catholic artists have encouraged people to be inspired this Holy Week by finding beauty... Read more

How do we fund sacred art in the Church? This priest has an idea

Dec 24, 2017

By Perry West

The John Paul II Foundation for the Sacred Arts is rethinking how the Catholic Church should fund well-crafted art. But... Read more

New Catholic university launches Sacred Art master's

Sep 16, 2016

A new Catholic university has announced the launch of their Masters of Sacred Art degree program, which is available online.  Read more

Can film be sacred art? For one Catholic, the answer is a resounding 'yes'

Jan 13, 2016

By Mary Farrow

When T.J. Berden and his film crew set out to produce “Full of Grace,” they knew they wanted to do... Read more

New film shows dramatic revival of Omaha parish

Apr 28, 2013

By Carl Bunderson

A new documentary tracks the gripping journey of how a priest and his community – through fidelity to Church tradition... Read more

Cattedrale di Monreale in Sicily.

Italian bishops launch TV program on stunning cathedral

Apr 19, 2013

The Italian bishops' conference have produced a twelve-part television series presenting the Creed from  Sicily's Monreale cathedral, a 12th century... Read more