God is the ultimate patron, working through the pope and the artist to create a work that will stand for centuries, drawing millions of people to contemplate the goodness and mercy of God.
Trials, Temptations, and the Arts
It would seem that artists are particularly vulnerable to the temptation to stray from the path. Generations of artists have been told that their art and their creativity is intensely personal, not to be dictated or shaped by anything outside of themselves. Artists are told that the purpose of their gifts is to “find themselves,” to indulge in their own passions and desires.
