Art, Theology, and Imagination

Experience the Event

Presented by de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture

Explore the dynamic imagination of Christian artists who transformed pagan gods into powerful symbols of their new faith. From the early Church’s reinterpretation of Hercules to the Renaissance genius of Michelangelo, discover how classical art was not rejected, but creatively absorbed and given profound new theological meaning.

Men and women of faith continue to draw on the wisdom, wonder, and beauty of the evergreen Catholic tradition to inform a particular mode of understanding and engaging with the world around them. Inspired by a sacramental vision of reality, the Catholic arts in particular grapple with the mystery and meaning that permeate the created order, giving shape and expression to the transcendent.

At its 24th annual Fall Conference, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture considered the idea of the Catholic imagination, its enduring and inexhaustible nature, and how it continues to illumine our modern world. With a particular focus on the literary arts, the conference explored unique expressions of the Catholic imagination in more than 150 presentations, performances, and discussions across the disciplines, including philosophy, theology, ethics, law, history, and the natural and social sciences, as well as the creative domains of film, music, theater, and the visual arts.

For 2024’s Fall Conference, the de Nicola Center was pleased to partner with the Biennial Catholic Imagination Conference, which aims to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the richness and variety of contributions by Catholic artists; to explore the critical and theoretical foundations of the Catholic imagination; and to foster community and collaboration among writers and readers who share a knowledge of and respect for the Catholic tradition.

Meet the Moderator: Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson is the Hesburgh Professor Emeritus of Catholic Thought in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. Anderson’s interests concern the religion and literature of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible with special interest in the reception of the Bible in early Judaism and Christianity. His interests span the entire Bible but as of recent he has put special focus on the book of Genesis. priestly literature, the story of King David and the book of Tobit. He is also interested in biblical narrative, canonical exegesis, biblical theology, Jewish culture and religion and Jewish-Christian relations.

Anderson has won numerous awards including most recently grants from NYU (joint Tikvah/Straus Fellow in Jewish Law and Civilization), the American Philosophical Society, Lilly Endowment, the Institute for Advanced Study at Hebrew University and most recently he was awarded the Barry prize by the American Academy of Letters and Science. He is currently working on a biography of King David and a monograph on the book of Tobit.

Meet the Faculty: Robin Jensen

Robin Jensen is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. Her research and publication focuses on the relationship between early Christian art and literature and examines the ways that visual images and architectural spaces should be regarded as modes of theological expression. Her published essays and books contend that, in addition to interpreting sacred texts, visual images enhance liturgical settings, reflect the nature and content of devotional piety, and explicate ritual practices. Additionally, she has researched the practices, distinctive character, and material evidence of Christianity in ancient Roman North Africa.

Anderson has won numerous awards including most recently grants from NYU (joint Tikvah/Straus Fellow in Jewish Law and Civilization), the American Philosophical Society, Lilly Endowment, the Institute for Advanced Study at Hebrew University and most recently he was awarded the Barry prize by the American Academy of Letters and Science. He is currently working on a biography of King David and a monograph on the book of Tobit.

Meet the Faculty: Elizabeth Lev

Elizabeth Lev is a professor at Duquesne University. She holds degrees in the history of art from the University of Chicago and the University of Bologna and has been teaching art history at the University of Mary’s Rome program since 2022. She also teaches for the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome as well as St. Vincent’s College. Lev is a well-known Rome and Vatican tour guide and she has lectured on the art of Rome all over the world. She writes regularly for numerous outlets, such as First Things, Sacerdos, and Inside the Vatican magazines, and her four books include The Tigress of Forlì, Roman Pilgrimage, A Body for Glory, and her latest, The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art. Lev has presented a TED talk on “The Unheard Story of the Sistine Chapel” and has appeared on many television and radio interviews, from ABC’s Nightline to the Today Show. She was featured in the series “Museum Secrets” for History television, Brad Meltzer’s “Decoded,” and was the host of “Catholic Canvas”, a 10-part television series on the art of the Vatican Museums, which aired on EWTN.