Y. zu Dohna – Abstract

Is there a masculine and feminine way of encountering God? The art of Raphael appears to point to the latter, while the masculine way is more present in Michelangelo’s work. This concept is the basic idea of Yvonne zu Dohna`s book “Art as a mirror of faith”. Certain compositional patterns and specific interpretations of religious subjects are more suitable to the female psyche, while others apply better to the masculine one. The idea that the creation of art, particularly that of religious art, always reveals the presence of our Creator as Lord of nature and humanity, has already been brilliantly stipulated by Dante Alighieri, who described art as the “granddaughter of God.”

This article introduces into the book and is concentrated on the explanation of Yvonne zu Dohna’s new method applied only on Raphael’s Transfiguration. The author’s primary objective is to analyze, from a psychological angle, nature as God’s creation. There is a self-expression and awareness within the works of Raphael. Raphael reveals a more feminine expression. Through a careful analysis of a work of art the author shows in how each artist encounters God, and how his soul and character emerges clearly, and becomes visible in his works.

Like all Christian art, the creation of Raphael aims to reproduce divine words and events, i.e. those to be read and found in the Bible. Even in this more theological sphere, the author succeeds in showing the way an artist encounter God in Christ.

The author skilfully talks about Raphael’s Transfiguration showing the spirituality of the artist. The author investigates with engrossing style the deep impact of these early and diverse experiences upon the nature of the work of the artist. Yvonne zu Dohna not only addresses the aesthetic experience within the work, but goes beyond, providing insights into the very intimate psychological and spiritual life of the artist through the analysis of his work. She does this while at the same time allowing the light of the Creator of mankind to shine through.