Modern Sacred Art / 20th c.

Innovations in science and technology, burgeoning cultural revolutions, anxieties surrounding international conflict, and the effects of an increasingly globalized world prompted many artists of the 20th century to create artwork that envisaged Christianity for the modern era. Liturgical shifts in the years surrounding the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) solidified desires to reimagine Christian art and architecture within a decidedly modern paradigm. In some moments, artists participated in and others diverged from modernism’s wider stylistic trends in order to present Christian narratives in fresh and arresting ways. Works amassed at Saint Vincent represent both gifts from generous benefactors as well as commissions initiated on behalf of the Archabbey to adorn the monastery residence, library and the Basilica’s Crypt. These works reflect how artists were
formed by deeply held beliefs and the concerns of the period.

Explore highlights from this collection by selecting the images below.