ART 235: Pre-Modern Art History

Have you stood in front of a painting and thought, What does this mean? The Art of Faith answers this question again and again, with insight, wit, and verve, providing a thorough reference to Christian art through the centuries. Practical and easy to read, this book unfolds the ancient world of Christian images for believers who want to enrich their faith, college students studying art history, and travelers to religious sites. Whatever your relationship to art or Christianity, open this book when you're curious about a painting, sculpture, symbol, or other sacred work.

Saints are often depicted with particular objects that played a dramatic role in their lives, and these objects or characteristics have become symbolic of the saints and can be used to identify them in art. These symbols represent drama, suffering, and unbend­ing faith, and one has only to be aware of these elements in order to recognize the saints in art. Detailing the feast days, patronages, appearances, biographies, and symbols of more than 120 saints, Saints and Their Symbols is an exquisite reference, illustrated by more than 200 evocative images.

This book addresses the rich history of Christian symbolism, presented for the twenty-first century reader. This unique resource offers page after page of line drawings depicting sacred monograms, saints, crosses, altars, flowers, fruits and trees, plus symbols of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the Church Year, the Apostles, the Holy Trinity; and much more. Completely updated and with ecumenical appeal, this useful new reference book expands on its earlier and well-earned reputation for providing clear and reliable information on Christian symbolism.

From the earliest period of its existence, Christianity has been recognized as the "religion of the cross." Some of the great monuments of Western art are representations of the brutal torture and execution of Christ. Despite the horror of crucifixion, we often find such images beautiful. In this volume, Richard Viladesau seeks to understand the beauty of the cross as it developed in both theology and art from their beginnings until the eve of the renaissance. By examining the relationship between aesthetic and conceptual theology, Viladesau deepens our understanding of the foremost symbol of Christianity.