An Evening in Advent 2006 at Christ Church Deer Park

Dr. Sarah M. McKinnon: O Holy Night
Representations of the Nativity
in Medieval and Renaissance Art

Tuesday, December 5, 2006 7:30 - 9:30 pm

About the Presentation

This illustrated lecture will focus on the representation of the Nativity in the art history of Western Europe during the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance. By examining examples of panel painting, fresco, and manuscript illumination from both north and south of the Alps, we will observe the changing nature of how artists depicted this theme. We will also consider the ways in which artists used for their visual sources not only holy scriptures but legends, notions of popular piety, and contemporary attitudes.

About the Speaker: Dr. Sarah M. McKinnon

Dr. Sarah M. McKinnon, currently Vice-President, Academic at the Ontario College of Art & Design, received her B.A. in History and Art History at Rice University in Houston, Texas and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Medieval Studies (in architectural history) from the University of Toronto.

For 25 years, she was appointed at the University of Winnipeg, serving as faculty member, University Art Curator, Chair of the History Department, Associate Dean and Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science.

She has published and lectured in late medieval art and architecture and has curated exhibitions of Canadian and European art. She currently serves on the board of the Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation in Winnipeg, a charitable trust that promotes the heritage of composer S. C. Eckhardt-Gramatté and her first husband, German Expressionist artist, Walter Gramatté. Dr. McKinnon continues to research the life and art of Mary Riter Hamilton and is writing a biography of this little-known Canadian artist.

[Ontario College of Art & Design]

Sponsored by the Learning Ministry For additional information, contact any member of the Learning Ministry Committee or phone the Parish Office at 416-920-5211 x 26 The Rev. Canon Dr. Judy Rois, The Rev. Jason Prisley, Michael Butler, Samantha Caravan, Greg Carpenter, Nora Dobell, Dr. Jennifer Harris.

Pictured: Leonardo da Vinci: Last Supper. 1495-97/98. Mural. Refectory, Sta. Maria delle Grazie, Milan. • Dirk Bouts, Last Supper Altarpiece. 1464-67. Church of St.-Pierre, Louvain.

EVENT SUMMARY

Images from the account of the Nativity in our Gospels have been a popular theme for artists for many centuries. On December 5 (2006), in the same week that featured the opening of the new film on the same subject, the Learning Ministry Group of Christ Church Deer Park welcomed Dr. Sarah McKinnon to present 'O Holy Night – Representations of the Nativity in Medieval and Renaissance Art'.  Dr. McKinnon is currently the Vice President, Academic of the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. She is a sought after lecturer in late medieval art and architecture, and has curated exhibitions of Canadian and European art. 

In a cozy environment with a blazing fire going, Dr. McKinnon brought a broad slide representation of pieces from the 13th - 16th century, from masters such as Giotto, da Vinci, and el Greco. The varied media included frescoes, book paintings, relief sculptures, painted altar panels, and oil on canvas. 

While Dr McKinnon explained we would likely be in 'familiar Christmas card territory', we in fact entered on a discussion where the theme went much further that the Christmas card. The chosen pieces largely spoke of the account of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of St. Luke, and also incorporated apocryphal stories and popular legends. We heard of the development of the treatment of space, depth and dimension, and the attempts by the various artists to capture realism or naturalism.

The evening was one that provided all present further moments of reflection to accompany our Advent journeys.  The presentation was repeated at the Cathedral of St James on Wednesday December 13, 2006.

- G. Carpenter The Anglican [Diocese of Toronto newspaper]