Hugo Schnell’s 'votum' for the Liturgical Preparatory Commission of the Second Vatican Council (1961)

The Munich art historian and publisher Hugo Schnell (1904-81) was appointed in 1961 as an external consultant to the Liturgical Preparatory Commission of the Second Vatican Council (1960-62). He was asked to collaborate in the drafting of the chapter on sacred art of the future constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. To this purpose, Schnell wrote an extensive votum (report). In it, among other topics, he urges ecclesiastical clients to respect contemporary culture and styles, stresses the importance of prudence in this area and the need to cultivate an objective Christian mentality among artists and architects. However, it seems that Schnell's recommendations had a rather limited impact on the final text of Sacrosanctum Concilium.