Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction

by Williamson, Beth

• ISBN13: 9780192803283
• ISBN10: 019280328X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-09
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This "Very Short Introduction decodes the key themes, signs, and symbols found l in Christian art: the Eucharist, the image of the Crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, the Saints, Old and New Testament narrative imagery, and iconography. It also explores the theological and historical background of Christian imagery, from the devotional works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, to the twenty first century. Williamson uses examples from, among others, Cimabue, Michelangelo, and Rosetti. She concludes by outlining the co-existence in contemporary "post-Christian" culture of the deliberately controversial works of artists such as Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili, alongside the consciously devotional works of those such as Eric Gill and Peter Blake.

Author Biography

Beth Williamson is Lecturer in the History of Art at the University of Bristol.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	viii
List of diagrams	xi
Introduction	1	(14)
The Virgin Mary	15	(19)
The body of Christ	34	(14)
The saints	48	(18)
Images and narrative	66	(24)
Christian art transformed: the Reformation	90	(20)
Christian art around the turn of the second millennium	110	(9)
Glossary	119	(2)
References	121	(1)
Further reading	122	(3)
Index	125