Calvin and the Visual Arts: Pure Vision or Blind Spot? (Adrienne Chaplin)

The sixteenth-century reformer John Calvin is not generally know for his enthusiasm for the visual arts. Yet he widely praised the arts in general as good gifts of God's creation for the common good and enjoyment of all. In this 500th anniversary year of the Reformation, this lecture takes a closer look at Calvin's comments on the arts in his Institutes of the Christian Religion and considers what may still be of value. A lecture given by Adrienne Chaplin (Independent Scholar and Visiting Research Fellow, King's College London) at English L'Abri on 6 October, 2017. For more information, visit labri.org/england and for more L'Abri lectures, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library.