The disciples of light: a way of seeing and the educational transfer of ideas linking spirituality and art among southern painters in the Hensche-Hawthorne tradition

This study examines the role of artistic education in shaping artistic beliefs and personal philosophy. Its central focus is the origins of a common belief among artists that artmaking or aesthetic response to art can be a form of spiritual activity or experience leading to spiritual insight. The primary data for this study is a series of in-depth oral history interviews with seven painters who studied with Henry Hensche at The Cape School of Art in Provincetown, MA, a school of American plein air painting that is linked with Impressionism. Charles W. Hawthorne, a painter who was a protégé of American Impressionist William Merritt Chase, founded the school in 1899. Each painter provided a life narrative of artistic education and development, discussed personal philosophy of art, shared views on the role of the artist in society, and related personal experiences of understanding and creating art. Spirituality in art is examined from perspectives of social and cultural traditions, personal spiritual orientations, and artistic education and practices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

Education

Year dc:date.available

2007

Author dc:creator

• Faulkner, Barbara Naron

• spirituality in art
• color visualism
• artistic mentors
• henry hensche

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-01102007-074140
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1046

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-2045