My statement that a characteristic Catholic sculpture is Bernini's astonishing "Ecstasy of St. Theresa," while a characteristic Protestant sculpture is a Jello mold caused one reader to write: "Off hand, I can't think of a great Protestant sculptor, although I'm sure they exist."
Googling on "Protestant sculptor" brings up the name "Bertel Thorvaldsen." Case closed!
No, honestly, there are plenty of Protestant sculptors, like Gutzon Borglum of Mr. Rushmore fame. And I wrote about Malvina Hoffman, America's excellent sculptress of human biodiversity here.
Still, Protestantism's Islamic-like objection to "idol-worship" obviously short-changed the development of sculpture in Protestant countries. Compare Pieter Saenredam's almost abstract paintings of the interiors of post-Reformation Dutch churches stripped of their statues with Panini's famous painting of St. Peter's lavish interior.
My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer
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