In January at St. Benedict Classical Academy students focus on artists from the Renaissance. This “rebirth period” has a wealth of beautiful works that inspire the artists we study. In art class each week, we learn about the famous four: Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. Donatello made his first appearance as SBCA’s featured artist of the month. We examined his sculpture of St. John the Evangelist, a true mountain of a saint, older and bearded, looking past the viewer towards the horizon. We discuss masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and David, Raphael’s School of Athens, and Da Vinci’s… well, everything. His thirst for knowledge gives us so many ideas; we could study his paintings, inventions, manuscripts, and sketches all year!

While these iconic four artists inspire exceptional student work, something truly magical happens in the art room when we study the work of Sister Plautilla Nelli. Born in Florence, Italy, in 1524, she entered the convent at fourteen. She had a tiny door of opportunity open when Savonarola, the Friar who managed the convent, allowed sisters to paint small devotionals to sell to the public. Nelli, discovering her talent, became highly sought after by wealthy patrons, earning greater opportunities to grow as an artist. Her most significant undertaking was her enormous painting of The Last Supper, measuring 6 x 22 feet. What makes this self-taught artist’s work so remarkable is the tenderness she imbues in her depiction of Christ and his apostles. We focused on how Jesus cradles John’s head against his chest. It’s hard not to imagine hearing Jesus’s heartbeat.

In class, students choose a portion of the painting to copy. The faces in their drawings are full of emotion, and the hands exhibit grace and indicate delicate movement. Younger students engage with the artwork in a tactile way, folding white paper to replicate the tablecloth’s creases and then setting the table with cut-out plates, bowls, and glasses. Sister Plautilla Nelli’s work carries the spirit of perseverance. We can all be inspired by her determination to make beautiful art to glorify Our Lord.

AUTHOR: Jane Bleakley, Fine Arts Teacher