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Charlotte Mason’s Great Recognition: A Scheme of Magnificent Unity
Within these pages we delve into the detail and relevance of Charlotte Mason’s Great Recognition . Mason (1842–1923), educationalist, philosopher, and friend to many parents in England and across the globe, asked much of both parents and children because she thought highly of them. Seeing the struggles of parents raising children in an age of progress, rapid change, and secularization, Mason gave a vision for a life that could both embrace the challenges they faced and transcend them. In Parents and Children , Mason wrote about her Great Recognition which was inspired by a fresco in the Spanish Chapel of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, that she encountered while on tour in 1893, guided by John Ruskin’s Mornings in Florence along with art critic and friend, Julia Firth. The Great Recognition offered an idea that “resolves the discord in our lives of which most of us, more or less, are aware” (Mason, 1896/1989, p. 274). Encouraged by Mason’s (1896/1989) words—“I hope the reader will continue to study Mr. Ruskin’s exposition of the ‘Vaulted Book’ in Mornings in it is wonderfully full of teaching and suggestion” (p. 269)—in this piece we contextualize Mason’s Great Recognition, identify and explore many of the components within the fresco, and then discuss the implications of her insights, as she saw them for education in her time and as we see them for education in ours.
- GenresEducation
82 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 25, 2024
Valuable information and insight into Charlotte Mason’s Great Recognition in Florence, Italy.
June 30, 2024
Well. Now I have further rabbit holes to go down for learning about the figures in The Great Recognition painting. And to read Ruskin’s Mornings in Florence.
Camille talked to our Morning Time for Moms group and it was a lot of fun. I was struck by Music holding a harp and the person under her was a Smith hitting an anvil. That the Smith would’ve been the one to hear harmony as he did his work! So cool to connect the heavenly with the functional and make them all better for it because of the relationship between them through the music. 🤯 it’s was especially illuminating having just studied opera in school and one of the selections was The Anvil’s Chorus by Verdi.
I’m so thankful Mason championed this painting, there is so much more to study that I do think I’ll give it a look-see yearly. Taking a bit at a time. Very thankful for those that used their divine inspiration to do the work God designed for them, that we in turn can see His perfect design. Love it!
Camille talked to our Morning Time for Moms group and it was a lot of fun. I was struck by Music holding a harp and the person under her was a Smith hitting an anvil. That the Smith would’ve been the one to hear harmony as he did his work! So cool to connect the heavenly with the functional and make them all better for it because of the relationship between them through the music. 🤯 it’s was especially illuminating having just studied opera in school and one of the selections was The Anvil’s Chorus by Verdi.
I’m so thankful Mason championed this painting, there is so much more to study that I do think I’ll give it a look-see yearly. Taking a bit at a time. Very thankful for those that used their divine inspiration to do the work God designed for them, that we in turn can see His perfect design. Love it!
July 18, 2024
What a good reminder that ALL learning is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that there need not be any division such as "sacred" and "secular" knowledge.
This book focuses on the fresco painted in the Santa Maria Novella Chapel in Florence and it's influence on the thinking of Charlotte Mason. I appreciated the walk through the whole chapel, compass point by compass point, explaining the fresco in detail. I was in Florence as a young woman and I'm sad I missed seeing this gem then! Because Mason was inspired by the writings of John Ruskin on this painting in his Mornings in Florence, I'd like to read his account next.
When I moved a few years ago, I never unpacked the print I have of the painting so beautifully described here and now I'll be on a hunt to find it and get it framed and hung!
This book focuses on the fresco painted in the Santa Maria Novella Chapel in Florence and it's influence on the thinking of Charlotte Mason. I appreciated the walk through the whole chapel, compass point by compass point, explaining the fresco in detail. I was in Florence as a young woman and I'm sad I missed seeing this gem then! Because Mason was inspired by the writings of John Ruskin on this painting in his Mornings in Florence, I'd like to read his account next.
When I moved a few years ago, I never unpacked the print I have of the painting so beautifully described here and now I'll be on a hunt to find it and get it framed and hung!
September 17, 2023
This monograph was excellent and sheds great light upon Charlotte Mason's educational "Great Recognition" in which she concluded, along with Scripture and many saints of old, that there is indeed no separation between sacred things and secular things because the Infinite Spirit God is the Imparter, Instructor, and Inspirer of all Knowledge. She rejected the dualism of her day and the false dichotomy that I still interact with on a seemingly daily basis today. Meditating on these truths really brings harmony to our lives and relieves them of discord. Lord willing, I will be taking this monograph along with me to my upcoming visit to the Santa Maria Novella chapel to behold the art piece which brought such clarity to Mason in her day and I know twill bring further clarity to myself.
May 21, 2024
I vividly remember the first time I heard the phrase "common grace," a concept totally foreign to my upbringing. It struck me then, and still strikes me, as so revelatory. There is not a sacred/secular divide, not in reality. All real beauty comes from the same place. The dualism that was trending in Charlotte Mason's day is still deceiving, leading people to think music or science or math are separate or lesser than overtly faith-driven ideas. But what CM knew when she went to Florence is what we can know now: there is a magnificent unity to all the goodness in the world. Faith and reason, science and faith, religious and secular. Aquinas said so in 1268; Charlotte, in the 1800s. Good and short read, full of rich ideas on which to chew!
July 6, 2024
This is a short but meaty book on the Florentine fresco which inspired Charlotte Mason and gave insight as to the role of the Holy Spirit in the educational scheme based on Mason's philosophy of Education. It was very enjoyable to read about this fresco which can be found in the Spanish Chapel of the Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The authors give an excellent description of each section of the fresco. Through symbolism, color, placement, and line, the viewer is instructed as to why this fresco was foundational to Charlotte Mason and what that might mean today. I especially appreciated the explanation of various theologians though the ages and their understanding of the unity of all the subjects, specifically those not thought of as "spiritual". Very inspiring all around.
July 2, 2024
Wow. This book is one of the most eye-opening books I have ever read. So many alarms going off inside of me, and I’m rejoicing for the perspective that it has given me, to see the beauty in all knowledge, that it is all given to us by the Holy Spirit, that there aren’t hard and rigid divisions of what is secular knowledge and then what is “godly” knowledge. God is the origin of ALL knowledge, and it all can point us to Him. I can trust Him and not fear. Amazed and blessed at this insight.
July 7, 2024
An excellent resource describing the fresco inside Florence, Italy's Spanish Chapel, that so inspired Charlotte Mason. This little book has whet my appetite to learn more about this amazing painting.
Field trip to Florence, anyone?
Field trip to Florence, anyone?
July 11, 2024
A visual representation of truth that appeared so convoluted to me years ago, but has been made clear by Charlotte Mason’s work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews