Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/376

 SBS THE CLASSICAL HERITAGE [chap, x fected mediaeval types, as they may be seen in the Church of the Arena at Padua, or on the Cathedral of Chartres, are stamped with the racehood and artistic genius of their creators, and yet they have also a Christian character constituting a common element which becomes stronger in them the more strongly their different racial individuality is marked. Hence, these types differ from the antique Greek and Koman, first, in that they are the true types of later times and races, and secondly, in that they are Christian and represent the expression in art of the distinctly Christian emotions, — love, fear, grief, reverence, humil- ity, and beatific joy, as well as the evil opposites of these, — pride, anger, hatred, and disdain. The genius of Christianity has achieved full mastery over the arts of painting and sculpture, it has penetrated and transformed them, and can express itself and utter the sentiments and emotions of the Christian soul through these two noble means of human expression. How completely the genius of Christianity mastered architecture, sculpture, and painting, may be learned from the long history of Christian art. In scope and purpose, in tone and feeling. Christian art has proved equal to its great task of setting forth Christianity as well as the joys and sorrows, the loves and abhor- rences, of the Christian soul ; it has been historical and dogmatic, instructive and edifying, dignified and formal; it has been symbolical and mystical; it has been devotional, loving, joyful, and full of tears — as many things as Christianity has been.