Article August 3, 1940 Issue

"Science and art"

CLARENCE WHEELER BOLTON

In our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says (p. 507): "Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity. This divine Principle of all expresses Science and art throughout His creation, and the immortality of man and the universe." That Mrs. Eddy recognized the source of true art to be infinite Mind, or God, and understood the nature of the power behind true expression, we can readily see by grasping the meaning of these words. Thus it is revealed to us that real art, as well as Science, comes from divine Principle, infinite Mind or God. The truth that God is the source of all good is also stated in the Bible, where we read, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

This basic fact takes on added meaning to those who practice some branch of the fine arts as a profession. Reasoning from the logical spiritual basis stated in the Bible and in the Christian Science textbook, the student of Christian Science perceives that because the spiritual idea underlying what is humanly called art reflects infinite divine Principle or Mind, it is a substantial, indestructible constituent of the harmony of being. All the essentials embraced in a material work of art—balanced composition, harmonious hue, correct light and shade, symmetry of line—are primarily mental and typify the spiritual qualities reflected by God's creation. Then, as students of Christian Science, if we would gain the true sense of creativeness in art, we must allow our thinking to be governed by divine Principle. Only then shall we approach the expression of the truly beautiful, good, and perfect in our artistic endeavors. As we remove from human consciousness a limited, personal sense of achievement, we shall discover and express the essential qualities which contribute to all great works of art. The great masters, in producing their best work, must surely have caught some glimpse of spiritual beauty which enabled them to paint upon canvas and to chisel in stone the works that inspire everyone.

Our Leader says (ibid., p. 310): "The artist is not in his painting. The picture is the artist's thought objectified." When we consider these words, we no longer marvel at the many different forms of expression, for we see that they represent the mental state of the artist. Christian Science helps us to express true talent in this field of work. It enables us clearly to discern between the real and the unreal. Thus we realize the boundless improvement made possible through the art of spiritual thinking brought to bear on all that we do.

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