Danse Macabre: Father Matthew Presents

Episcopal priest, Matthew Moretz, presents the "Danse Macabre" painted by Bernt Lotke c.1485. This piece is an example of Christian teaching and drama in the time of the Black Plague. The painting depicts member of society hand in hand with death in a grim procession. "Father Matthew Presents" is a regular video series produced by an Episcopal priest at historic Christ's Church (1695) in Rye, New York. To find out more visit www.fathermatthewpresents.org or www.ccrye.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Episcopal
• Anglican
• Danse
• Macabre
• Dance
• Death
• Tallinn
• Estonia
• Bernt
• Lotke
• Faith

[ned262626]

i dont think churfch and state were one thing back then

[FatherMatthew]

Well said. I was using short hand to articulate a society where the lines of power and influence in church matters and state matters were MUCH more blurry than they are now.

[stancan2]

Yes,That's right pradre. In Tallin, by the year 1524 plebs ransacked Oleviste and Holy Ghost Churches and Dominican St. Cathrine Church. The Town Council tried to constrain the spontaneous spoliation and obtain control over money matters of churches. The Dominican Convent was dissolved in January 1525. Little by little church life was reorganized according to ideas carried by reformation.

[FatherMatthew]

Wow. Thank you for the education.

[stancan2]

I didn't see much if any; as Matthew said, "Christian Teachings." I heard a reading of an artist radical political view of it's time. Was this artist correct in the personal "free thinking" view of the Church at the time?

I believe not.The painting and it's depiction, is very much a "political cartoon" of it's day. And, the continued "protestant view" of the One True Church established by Christ.

[FatherMatthew]

So, your sense is that the Roman Catholic church in Tallin in which it hung for 500 years (now a deconsecrated museum) assumed it was a protestant work? And, for a cartoon, it is huge!!

[abominableangel]

oh ... :( i was just getting into that .. then poof all finished what a shame it was damaged .. i wanted to hear how it ended

[Chrisspy704]

@crigjig Well, the pope got his so I think it would make more sense that if it were to be destroyed purposefully, the whole thing would have to be destroyed.

[dawn0293]

Interesting piece of historical political propaganda. Must of taken the artist quite some time.

[JJTecumseh87]

what exactly is a death cult?

[menkbabe1]

I found something heaven bound in the gaze of this work of painting and reading.

How wonderful the artwork you show is since it imaginatively brings the reality of death, as we are but dust. This regardless of our station.

In life we hold the hand of death. A good Benedictine reminder. What an artful statement you make in interpreting Danse Macabe, the painting. Benedict says run, and we do seek our heavenly home. We do this even in the midst of adversity and the pall of sickly death.