{"id":348,"date":"2026-04-21T20:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T00:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/?p=348"},"modified":"2026-04-21T20:12:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T00:12:30","slug":"trashing-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Trashing Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">I am approaching this post differently from my ususal layout. We\u2019re going to talk about <strong>ICONOCLASM<\/strong> which, for us, is appropriate, because what addresses the conjunction of FAITH and ART more than destroying art for your beliefs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">First, we should define a few things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">What is an <strong>ICON<\/strong>? With regard to religious images, &#8220;An&nbsp;icon&nbsp;(from&nbsp;Ancient Greek&nbsp;\u03b5\u1f30\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd&nbsp;(eik\u1e53n)&nbsp;&#8216;image, resemblance&#8217;) is a religious work of art, most commonly a&nbsp;painting, in the cultures of the&nbsp;Eastern Orthodox,&nbsp;Oriental Orthodox,&nbsp;Catholic, and Lutheran churches.&nbsp;The most common subjects include&nbsp;Jesus,&nbsp;Mary,&nbsp;saints, and angels. Although especially associated with portrait style images concentrating on one or two main figures, the term also covers most of the religious images in a variety of artistic media produced by&nbsp;Eastern Christianity, including narrative scenes, usually from the Bible or the lives of saints.&#8221;<sup data-fn=\"ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0-link\" href=\"#ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0\">1<\/a><\/sup><br><br>This is a classic definition, and there are many texts that discuss the history of religious icons and the denominations that venerate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Other modern uses of the term &#8220;icon&#8221; include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>(in computing) an image used in a graphical interface. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(cultural icon)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>(Pop icon) a celebrity, character, or object whose exposure in pop culture constitutes a defining characteristic of a given society or era<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>(Architectural icon) a groundbreaking or unique building<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a pictogram <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">But we are disregarding these latter definitions in this discussion. We will be sticking to &#8220;religious work of art&#8221; definition, even though we may be extending it past the Byzantine era into our modern era. And may even apply it to some non-religious art, where it is impacted by &#8220;Iconoclasm&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">What is <strong>ICONOCLASM<\/strong>?<br>&#8220;The belief in the importance of the destruction of&nbsp;icons&nbsp;and other images or monuments, often for religious or political reasons. Those who engage in or support iconoclasm are called&nbsp;<strong>iconoclasts<\/strong>.&#8221;<sup data-fn=\"889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca-link\" href=\"#889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca\">2<\/a><\/sup> Iconoclasm does not generally encompass the destruction of the images of a specific ruler (or military figure) after their death or overthrow. For example, the defacing and vandalism of the tomb of my ancestor Baron Ralph Neville<sup data-fn=\"f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579-link\" href=\"#f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579\">3<\/a><\/sup> would not be considered iconoclasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\">Christian icons began to be created an venerated as early as the second century. (Some legends claim that Pilate had an image of Jesus created, but this has been largely debunked). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christ_Pantocrator#\/media\/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"549\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-549x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-353 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-549x1024.jpg 549w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-161x300.jpg 161w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-80x150.jpg 80w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-768x1433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-823x1536.jpg 823w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-1098x2048.jpg 1098w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-scaled.jpg 1372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 549px) 100vw, 549px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The image of Christ Pantocrator (Almighty) was one of the first&nbsp;images of Christ developed in the&nbsp;Early Christian Church&nbsp;and remains a central icon of the&nbsp;Eastern Orthodox Church. The oldest known surviving example&nbsp;of the icon of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christ_Pantocrator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Christ Pantocrator<\/a><\/strong> was painted in&nbsp;encaustic&nbsp;on panel in the sixth or seventh century.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 36%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon_of_Christ_and_Abbot_Mena\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp; is a&nbsp;Coptic&nbsp;painting on wood and was found in the Apollo monastery in&nbsp;Bawit,&nbsp;Egypt. It is dated to the second half of the 6th century<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon_of_Christ_and_Abbot_Mena#\/media\/File:Kristus_a_svat%C3%BD_Menas.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"963\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-963x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-354 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-963x1024.jpg 963w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-282x300.jpg 282w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-141x150.jpg 141w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-768x816.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-1445x1536.jpg 1445w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kristus_a_svaty_Menas-1927x2048.jpg 1927w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:30% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrei_Rublev#\/media\/File:Andrey_Rublev_-_%D0%A1%D0%B2._%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"827\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-827x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-355 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-827x1024.jpg 827w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-242x300.jpg 242w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-121x150.jpg 121w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-768x951.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-1241x1536.jpg 1241w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Andrey_Rublev_-_\u0421\u0432._\u0422\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0446\u0430_-_Google_Art_Project-1654x2048.jpg 1654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrei_Rublev\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrei Rublev<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;(c.\u20091360&nbsp;\u2013 c.\u20091430)&nbsp;was a&nbsp;Russian artist&nbsp;considered to be one of the greatest medieval Russian painters of&nbsp;Orthodox Christian&nbsp;icons&nbsp;and&nbsp;frescoes. The only work authenticated as entirely his is the icon of the&nbsp;<strong>Trinity<\/strong>&nbsp;(c. 1410)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>These are some of the most iconic (something that is seen as a&nbsp;cultural icon) icons created throughout the East. There were many more, but a significant number have not survived. Why is that? While early Christian churches venerated the created images of Jesus and the saints as a means of drawing people into closer relationship with God and Christ, there began to be rumblings in the Eastern Orthodox churches about the use of icons as being idolatrous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Exodus 20:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not turn to idols or make cast images for yourselves: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their figured stones, destroy all their cast images, and demolish all their high places. Numbers 33:52<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCursed be anyone who makes an idol or casts an image, anything abhorrent to the LORD, the work of an artisan, and sets it up in secret.\u201d All the people shall respond, saying, \u201cAmen!\u201d Deuteronomy 27:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since we are God\u2019s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. Acts 17:29<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The early Christian church Synod of Elvira endorsed iconoclasm with the canon &#8220;Pictures are not to be placed in churches, so that they do not become objects of worship and adoration.&#8221;<sup data-fn=\"0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20-link\" href=\"#0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20\">4<\/a><\/sup> Early church theologians cited scripture from the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures) as justification for, at the least removing, and at the most destroying, images of Jesus and the saints. The justification was that images (sculptures as well as paintings) might be venerated to the point of becoming idols, which Mosaic law strictly prohibits.<br><br>What do you think about sacred images being idolized? Do you carry a prayer card with Warner Salman\u2019s \u201cHead of Christ\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"72\" class=\"wp-image-214\" style=\"width: 50px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg 263w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941-105x150.jpg 105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 50px) 100vw, 50px\" \/><\/a> in your wallet or purse? Do you bow or kneel at a statue of Mary? Do you wear a medal of a saint, praying to it for aid or intercession? These things may or may not be idolatrous, but Eastern Orthodox Christians of the Byzantine Era would say so, and would seek to destroy them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My thoughts on this, while understanding the dangers of idolatry and the potential for making an image more important than God or Christ, I agree with the artist Rene Magritte when he painted \u201cThe Treachery of Images\u201d as a statement that &#8220;Art is not &#8216;<em>the thing&#8217;<\/em>. Only the thing is the thing.&#8221;.<sup data-fn=\"8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9-link\" href=\"#8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9\">5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Byzantine Era of iconoclasm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern most part of the Roman Empire and survived the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century . It existed from 306 to 1453 CE. Christianity was the state religion. There were two periods in the Byzantine Empire where iconoclasm was a predominant expression of the Christian Church. The&nbsp;First Iconoclasm,&nbsp;as it is sometimes called, occurred between about 726 and 787, while the&nbsp;Second Iconoclasm&nbsp;occurred between 814 and 842.&nbsp;According to the traditional view, Byzantine Iconoclasm was started by a ban on religious images promulgated by the Byzantine Emperor&nbsp;Leo III the Isaurian,&nbsp;and continued under his successors.&nbsp;It was accompanied by widespread destruction of religious images and persecution of supporters of the veneration of images.<sup data-fn=\"65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7-link\" href=\"#65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7\">6<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the era the Byzantine Empire was regularly in contact with other Arab nations, either through war or trade. Islamic iconoclasm may or may not have had an impact on the Eastern Christian church and their iconoclasm. Islamic iconoclasm went further and rejected any depictions of living people or animals, not only religious images. This is evident in Islamic architectural design, where no vines, leaves, flowers, birds or animals adorn structures, only geometric designs. This is called Aniconism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:36% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chludov_Psalter#\/media\/File:Crucifixion_with_iconoclasts,_Chludov_Psalter,_folio_67r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"348\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9th-c-John-the-Grammarian-iconoclasm.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-363 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9th-c-John-the-Grammarian-iconoclasm.jpg 353w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9th-c-John-the-Grammarian-iconoclasm-300x296.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9th-c-John-the-Grammarian-iconoclasm-150x148.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>A mid 9th century Psalter illustration shows John the Grammarian rubbing out a painting of Christ with a pole and sponge, similar to the one offered to Christ on the cross. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end of the 9th century, Byzantine Iconoclasm was fading. But it certainly was not the end of iconoclasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protestant Reformation Iconoclasm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the early 1520&#8217;s, reformers called for the removal of images from churches. Martin Luther argued that the mental picturing of Christ when reading the Scriptures was similar in character to artistic renderings of Christ.<br><br>Calvinist reformers encouraged the removal of religious images, resulting in the <strong><em><strong>Bildersturm<\/strong><\/em><\/strong>, roughly translated as &#8216;attack on the images or statues&#8217;. During these spates of&nbsp;iconoclasm,&nbsp;Catholic art&nbsp;and many forms of church fittings and decoration were destroyed in unofficial or mob actions by&nbsp;Calvinist&nbsp;Protestant crowds as part of the&nbsp;Protestant Reformation.&nbsp;Most of the destruction was of art in churches and public places.<sup data-fn=\"02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0-link\" href=\"#02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0\">7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 41%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Once the revolt proper had started, there were many instances of clearing churches, some still unofficial and disorderly, but as cities became officially Protestant, increasingly undertaken by official order, altars, to which Calvinists took strong exception, were typically completely removed, and some large churches, like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Utrecht_Cathedral\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utrecht Cathedral<\/a>, were vandalized or covered up.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/St._Martin%27s_Cathedral,_Utrecht#\/media\/File:Altaarretabel_Domkerk.JPG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm-780x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-364 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm-780x1024.jpg 780w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm-114x150.jpg 114w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm-768x1008.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1566-europe-iconoclasm.jpg 826w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1010\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation-1024x1010.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-365 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation-1024x1010.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation-300x296.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation-150x148.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation-768x758.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1520s-1560s-The-Mercers-Christ-survives-the-Protestant-reformation.jpg 1190w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The pre-Reformation sculpture, <strong>Dead Christ<\/strong> was discovered in 1954 beneath the floor of Mercer&#8217;s Chapel. The iconoclasts did some damage to the face, but the feet, arms and crown of thorns are gone. <sup data-fn=\"30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5-link\" href=\"#30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5\">8<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">20th and 21st century Iconoclasm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While iconoclasm continues on through the years into the 21st century, the nature of the vandalism and destruction of art, while still backed by religious and political beliefs, has shifted focus. Art has become more secular, yet it still reveals something about human faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:31% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-Portrait_(D%C3%BCrer,_Munich)#\/media\/File:D%C3%BCrer_Alte_Pinakothek.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"528\" height=\"725\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1905-seared-eyes-durerself7571-725px-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-367 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1905-seared-eyes-durerself7571-725px-1.jpg 528w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1905-seared-eyes-durerself7571-725px-1-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1905-seared-eyes-durerself7571-725px-1-109x150.jpg 109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>The self portrait of Albrecht D\u00fcrer, painted in 1500, presents the artist as Christ. In 1805 it became part of the Bavarian Collection and hangs in &nbsp;Alte Pinakothek&nbsp;in&nbsp;Munich, Germany. It so distressed an unknown visitor that in 1905 the eyes were gouged out by a hatpin. It has since been restored.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1914-mary-richardson.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-368\" style=\"width:564px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1914-mary-richardson.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1914-mary-richardson-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1914-mary-richardson-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1914-mary-richardson-768x496.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>On 10 March 1914 Mary Richardson, a British suffragette, entered the&nbsp;National Gallery&nbsp;in London to attack a painting by&nbsp;Vel\u00e1zquez, the&nbsp;<em>Rokeby Venus<\/em>, using a chopper she smuggled into the gallery. <br><br>She wrote a brief statement explaining her actions to the WSPU which was published by the press:<br><br>&#8220;I have tried to destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history as a protest against the Government for destroying Mrs&nbsp;Pankhurst, who is the most beautiful character in modern history. Justice is an element of beauty as much as colour and outline on canvas.<br>\u2014\u200a&#8221;Miss Richardson&#8217;s Statement&#8221;.&nbsp;&#8216;<em>The Times<\/em>. London. 11 March 1914.<br><br>The canvas was later fully restored.<sup data-fn=\"54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992-link\" href=\"#54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992\">9<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Love_Is_in_the_Bin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-369 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2018-banksy-art.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Some contemporary artists use iconoclasm as a statement about art. In 2018, the anonymous artist Banksy stunned onlookers when he shredded his&nbsp;<em>Girl with Balloon<\/em>&nbsp;(2006) after it was purchased at Sotheby&#8217;s New York. Banksy confirmed that he was responsible for the shredding (by way of a mechanical device he had hidden inside the frame) and gave the altered piece a new name,&nbsp;<em>Love Is in the Bin<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>See a video of the auction and shredding <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vxkwRNIZgdY?si=bMLDwSuRrDOKGlde\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contemporary art destruction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In March of 2025, Greek Parliament Member Nikolaos Papadopoulos targeted and damaged artist Christophoros Katsadiotis\u2019s works, on display at the national gallery in Athens, decrying them as \u201cblasphemous.\u201d<br><br>Papadopoulos, a conservative Parliament member representing Greece\u2019s far-right and ultra-religious Niki Party, accessed the group show&nbsp;<em>The Allure of the Bizarre<\/em>&nbsp;late Monday morning, March 10, and took down four of Katsadiotis\u2019s etchings depicting Saint Christopher, Saint George, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ. Papadopoulos shattered the protective glass of two etchings, claiming that the works slipped from his hands.<sup data-fn=\"cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920\" id=\"cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920-link\">10<\/a><\/sup><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/storage.ghost.io\/c\/51\/f8\/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a\/content\/images\/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com\/uploads\/2025\/03\/job_9488.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"851\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-851x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-376 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-851x1024.jpg 851w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-125x150.jpg 125w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-768x924.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488-1276x1536.jpg 1276w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-job_9488.jpg 1662w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>One day after the incident, the artist Katsadiotis stated &nbsp;that \u201cit is worth considering how society (politics) uses religion as a tool to control and corral the masses with threats, fear and obscurantism.\u201d The museum underscored that it \u201cunequivocally condemns\u201d any act of vandalism, violence, and any attempts at censorship that threaten the freedom of artistic expression.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In August of 2025, following a political decision statewide to remove painted crosswalks on all public streets throughout Florida, a similar directive caused planned and approved sidewalk art in Burns Court, Sarasota to be completely removed without the artists knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"420\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/download.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/download.jpg 420w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/download-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/download-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Art that had been commissioned by the city. It was a major tourist draw and attracted artists and culture lovers year round.<br><br>While the art itself was not political nor religious, the impetus for removing it was. Beginning with clashes over rainbow painted crosswalks, which showed support for LGBTQ+ issues and rights, the politically conservative legislature and Governor demanded they be removed as &#8220;public nuisances&#8221;. The removal extended beyond crosswalk art to include any art on surfaces that were walked on or driven on (even if approved by the city or local authority). The artists in Sarasota have filed legal notices against Sarasota and the state of Florida FDOT.<sup data-fn=\"5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77\" class=\"fn\"><a id=\"5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77-link\" href=\"#5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77\">11<\/a><\/sup> The art cannot be recovered, but will the artists preserve their right to create public art when commissioned?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you think?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you think about the destruction of art? Is it justified? Is it ethical? If a work of art goes against your faith beliefs, is it OK to destroy or damage it? How offensive must a work of art be to bring a person to that level of destruction?<br><br>What about art in your place of worship? Have you looked around at any of the art that is displayed there? Should it be there, or should it be removed to another location so as to not interfere with your faith and worship?<br><br>Is religious art idolatrous, or does it bring you into closer relationship with God? Does religious art inform you in new ways about your faith? Does it challenge you? If a work spoke out in ways that do not conform to your beliefs, or understandings about your faith, should it be removed? Altered? Vandalized? Destroyed?<br><br>Does art, of any type, whether sacred or secular, bring value to your faith journey? If it offends you, do you have the obligation (or even the right) to destroy it?<br><br>Feel free to express your thoughts in the comment section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-purple-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-purple-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>If you or someone you know would like to receive notification about these posts (about once every 24 days), subscribe at <a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/i78iLU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/eepurl.com\/i78iLU<\/a><br>Subscriptions cost nothing but ensure that you know when a new post is published on the website. You can always access the website (even without subscribing), but subscribing helps me know how many people are connecting to my posts, and it is a nice prompt to you to check out the latest. Thank you for following along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-purple-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-purple-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-elements-224f288f4e9b4685a31c443970aa6d49 wp-block-footnotes has-text-color has-purple-color\"><li id=\"ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon<\/a> <a href=\"#ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iconoclasm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iconoclasm<\/a> <a href=\"#889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 2\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Highly-damaged_tomb_of_Ralph_Neville,_2nd_Baron_Neville_de_Raby_and_his_wife,_Alice_de_Audley,_in_Durham_Cathedral.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Highly-damaged_tomb_of_Ralph_Neville,_2nd_Baron_Neville_de_Raby_and_his_wife,_Alice_de_Audley,_in_Durham_Cathedral.jpg<\/a> <a href=\"#f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 3\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120716202800\/http:\/\/faculty.cua.edu\/pennington\/Canon%20Law\/ElviraCanons.htm#:~:text=36.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Pictures%20are%20not%20to%20be%20placed%20in%20churches%2C%20so%20that%20they%20do%20not%20become%20objects%20of%20worship%20and%20adoration.\">https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120716202800\/http:\/\/faculty.cua.edu\/pennington\/Canon%20Law\/ElviraCanons.htm#:~:text=36.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Pictures%20are%20not%20to%20be%20placed%20in%20churches%2C%20so%20that%20they%20do%20not%20become%20objects%20of%20worship%20and%20adoration.<\/a> <a href=\"#0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 4\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/this-is-not-a-pipe\/\">https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/this-is-not-a-pipe\/<\/a> <a href=\"#8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 5\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Iconoclasm\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Iconoclasm<\/a> <a href=\"#65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 6\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beeldenstorm\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beeldenstorm<\/a> <a href=\"#02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 7\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/artanddesign\/2013\/oct\/06\/art-under-attack-tate-review\">https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/artanddesign\/2013\/oct\/06\/art-under-attack-tate-review<\/a> <a href=\"#30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 8\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mary_Richardson\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mary_Richardson<\/a> <a href=\"#54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 9\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/athens-museum-removes-artworks-vandalized-by-far-right-lawmaker\/\">https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/athens-museum-removes-artworks-vandalized-by-far-right-lawmaker\/<\/a> <a href=\"#cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 10\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mysuncoast.com\/2026\/03\/23\/sarasota-erased-downtown-art-without-public-notice-artists-now-seek-damages\/\">https:\/\/www.mysuncoast.com\/2026\/03\/23\/sarasota-erased-downtown-art-without-public-notice-artists-now-seek-damages\/<\/a> <a href=\"#5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 11\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am approaching this post differently from my ususal layout. We\u2019re going to talk about ICONOCLASM which, for us, is appropriate, because what addresses the conjunction of FAITH and ART more than destroying art for your beliefs? First, we should define a few things. What is an ICON? With regard to religious images, &#8220;An&nbsp;icon&nbsp;(from&nbsp;Ancient Greek&nbsp;\u03b5\u1f30\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd&nbsp;(eik\u1e53n)&nbsp;&#8216;image, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Trashing Art<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon<\/a>\",\"id\":\"ba51a588-1b7a-43c5-9cc6-6f0e531176d0\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iconoclasm\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iconoclasm<\/a>\",\"id\":\"889772a8-ce23-4d73-a861-e8381426b9ca\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Highly-damaged_tomb_of_Ralph_Neville,_2nd_Baron_Neville_de_Raby_and_his_wife,_Alice_de_Audley,_in_Durham_Cathedral.jpg\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Highly-damaged_tomb_of_Ralph_Neville,_2nd_Baron_Neville_de_Raby_and_his_wife,_Alice_de_Audley,_in_Durham_Cathedral.jpg<\/a>\",\"id\":\"f10e7daa-3b8b-43cc-9dd9-31ed56d5e579\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120716202800\/http:\/\/faculty.cua.edu\/pennington\/Canon%20Law\/ElviraCanons.htm#:~:text=36.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Pictures%20are%20not%20to%20be%20placed%20in%20churches%2C%20so%20that%20they%20do%20not%20become%20objects%20of%20worship%20and%20adoration.\\\">https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120716202800\/http:\/\/faculty.cua.edu\/pennington\/Canon%20Law\/ElviraCanons.htm#:~:text=36.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Pictures%20are%20not%20to%20be%20placed%20in%20churches%2C%20so%20that%20they%20do%20not%20become%20objects%20of%20worship%20and%20adoration.<\/a>\",\"id\":\"0747b0b1-3456-4b30-b8c7-d58357d02e20\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/this-is-not-a-pipe\/\\\">https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/this-is-not-a-pipe\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"8085dac1-e1f6-4b21-9147-93ade4a0aac9\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Iconoclasm\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Iconoclasm<\/a>\",\"id\":\"65640480-0206-4f84-b285-992828300ef7\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beeldenstorm\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beeldenstorm<\/a>\",\"id\":\"02314844-1b18-484b-8b2d-399e9907a8f0\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/artanddesign\/2013\/oct\/06\/art-under-attack-tate-review\\\">https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/artanddesign\/2013\/oct\/06\/art-under-attack-tate-review<\/a>\",\"id\":\"30fbf49d-8f2d-492e-971c-04869f40ebd5\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mary_Richardson\\\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mary_Richardson<\/a>\",\"id\":\"54e0f729-b6a6-495d-a03c-65760a709992\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/athens-museum-removes-artworks-vandalized-by-far-right-lawmaker\/\\\">https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/athens-museum-removes-artworks-vandalized-by-far-right-lawmaker\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"cd4918d5-0d97-47e7-92ee-cce9b32b9920\"},{\"content\":\"<a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.mysuncoast.com\/2026\/03\/23\/sarasota-erased-downtown-art-without-public-notice-artists-now-seek-damages\/\\\">https:\/\/www.mysuncoast.com\/2026\/03\/23\/sarasota-erased-downtown-art-without-public-notice-artists-now-seek-damages\/<\/a>\",\"id\":\"5e65311f-0c0f-43f7-ae44-918905ab4d77\"}]"},"categories":[7,6,9,8],"tags":[24,22,23,3],"class_list":["post-348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feel","category-see","category-think","category-wonder","tag-byzantine","tag-icon","tag-iconoclasm","tag-painting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Trashing Art - Bona Fides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trashing Art - Bona Fides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I am approaching this post differently from my ususal layout. We\u2019re going to talk about ICONOCLASM which, for us, is appropriate, because what addresses the conjunction of FAITH and ART more than destroying art for your beliefs? First, we should define a few things. What is an ICON? With regard to religious images, &#8220;An&nbsp;icon&nbsp;(from&nbsp;Ancient Greek&nbsp;\u03b5\u1f30\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd&nbsp;(eik\u1e53n)&nbsp;&#8216;image, &hellip; Continue reading Trashing Art\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bona Fides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T00:10:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T00:12:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1372\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ken\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ken\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\",\"name\":\"Trashing Art - Bona Fides\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-549x1024.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-22T00:10:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-22T00:12:30+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/76fee24a35b968fbc996381fd3924d14\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":1372,\"height\":2560},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Trashing Art\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/\",\"name\":\"Bona Fides\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/76fee24a35b968fbc996381fd3924d14\",\"name\":\"Ken\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f81cbae04219f50ace950ce7a300c07?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7f81cbae04219f50ace950ce7a300c07?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ken\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/author\/bonafides_admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Trashing Art - Bona Fides","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bonafides.kjunkins.com\/wordpress\/trashing-art\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Trashing Art - Bona Fides","og_description":"I am approaching this post differently from my ususal layout. 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