Architecture: religious buildings Books

483 products


  • Sacred Sites. The Library of Esoterica

    Taschen GmbH Sacred Sites. The Library of Esoterica

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA visual pilgrimage through holy mountains, great pyramids, and golden shrines, Sacred Sites celebrates the ways we transform the world around us through ritual, creativity, and worship. Essays, interviews and more than 400 images explore spaces ranging from ancient temples to modern works of spatial art.

    15 in stock

    £20.99

  • The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an

    Tuttle Publishing The Genius of Japanese Carpentry: Secrets of an

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Genius of Japanese Carpentry tells the story of the 1200-year-old Yakushiji monastery in Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the dedicated modern-day craftsmen who are working to restore what has been lost to the depredations of time, fire and warfare.Although the monastery's reconstruction will not be fully completed until 2030, one of the primary temples—the Picture Hall—has been wholly restored employing the same materials, tools and techniques originally used in its creation over a millennium ago. Featuring intricate, puzzle-like joinery and the integration of timber pieces to orient them in the same direction as when it was a growing tree, this book skillfully documents the stunning craftsmanship of the ancient Japanese, which is still alive today.First published more than thirty years ago, this book has become a classic. Author Azby Brown, one of the world's leading experts on Japanese architecture, chronicles the painstaking restoration of the Yakushiji monastery through: Extensive interviews with carpenters and woodworkers Original drawings based on the plans of master carpenter Tsunekazu Nishioka Detailed photographs and diagrams showing the woodworking techniques, tools and materials used This revised edition of the book contains a new foreword by Mira Locher, one of the world's leading experts on vernacular and modern Japanese architecture.An inspiring testament to the dedication of these craftsmen and their philosophy of carpentry work as a form of personal fulfillment, The Genius of Japanese Carpentry offers detailed documentation of the restoration of this historic building and a moving reminder of the unique cultural continuity found in Japan.cTrade Review"My main impression throughout reading this book has been one of head shaking and disbelief, and sheer amazement at the ingenuity of Japanese carpenters current and old. If you have any interest in carpentry, timber framing, woodworking, or even Japanese history, I highly recommend this book" —The Year of Mud blog"The Genius of Japanese Carpentry focuses on Japan's foremost carpenters who combine the timeless past and living present." —Japan Woodcraft Association"…very much heartfelt appreciation of Japanese carpentry." —Japan Forward blog

    5 in stock

    £14.44

  • Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of

    Pan Macmillan Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWritten in aid of the crucial restoration work to restore Paris’s great cathedral, Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals is a moving, short piece of non-fiction celebrating the stunning history of this beloved building, from Ken Follett, author of the multi-million copy selling Kingsbridge series.‘Two days after Notre Dame burned, I flew to Paris to appear on the TV programme La Grande Librairie for a discussion about cathedrals. The following morning I had breakfast at the Hotel Bristol with my French publisher and she asked me to write a short book about Notre Dame and what it means to all of us. She said she would donate the publisher’s profits to the rebuilding fund and, if I wished, I could do the same with my royalties. Yes, I said; of course, I’d love to.’ – Ken FollettA minimum of 50p per copy on each sale of this book will go to the heritage and restoration charity La Fondation du Patrimoine.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Divine Light

    Kulturalis Divine Light

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe stained-glass windows of England's cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages, and perhaps offer a glimpse of heaven. This book tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art.

    7 in stock

    £14.20

  • Medieval Church Architecture

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Medieval Church Architecture

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisBy the end of the medieval period, Britain''s churches already had an architectural heritage of one thousand years, much of which remains on view today. This guide by architectural historian Jon Cannon uses high-quality photographs and diagrams to help us to analyze the leading changes in style from the Anglo-Saxon period, through the Romanesque as far as Gothic and Perpendicular. By identifying various clues left by each period, he enables us to date architectural features and styles, and explains the technical terms applied to them. If you have ever wondered how your church or cathedral developed, and want to know your triforium from your blind arcade or your vault from your hammerbeam, all the answers are here.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Anglo-Saxon / Norman or Romanesque / The Birth of Gothic: Transitional / Gothic I: Early English / Gothic II: Decorated / Gothic III: Perpendicular / Postscript / Glossary / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Appendix: Chronology of Styles / Index

    15 in stock

    £9.49

  • Architecture of the Islamic West

    Yale University Press Architecture of the Islamic West

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review“For more than a millennium, as this richly illustrated volume affirms, Islamic architectural styles prospered around the western and southern Mediterranean - from the Alhambra to the Cappella Palatina.”—Apollo Magazine“Offers a tantalising glimpse into the richness of the buildings of the Western Mediterranean, leaving the reader hungry for more- in short this volume serves as the perfect amuse-bouche for the non-specialist, and a welcome contribution for specialists in need of a competent, survey text to introduce Islamicate architecture of North Africa and al-Andalus to new students.”—Sarah Slingluff, Al-Masāq (Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean) “[A] thorough and well-researched book, which draws attention to the fascinating histories of a variety of different Muslim peoples, as well as to the architectural history of regions across the Islamic West…Engaging and informative...Bloom persuasively suggests that the transmission of architectural knowledge, ideas, and motifs was a great deal more complex than scholars previously thought.”—Lydia Ann Jesudason, Aspectus [Journal of Visual Culture, University of York]“A confident and accurate book that could only be accomplished by a mature scholar...Far more than this, it is a book of someone whose enthusiasm for his subject is as strong as his ability to use a broad knowledge of Islamic and European art to focus it.”—Nancy Steinhardt, Orientations“A formidable collection of architectural knowledge...It is made more accessible by being woven into a rich narrative thread that takes the reader from the medieval to the modern world...An unparalleled collection through which the Islamic architectural history of the region can be better understood and relished.”—Shahed Saleem, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments SocietyCHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles 2021Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction and acknowledgments Chapter 1: Islamic Architecture in Umayyad al-Andalus and Aghlabid IfriqiyaChapter 2: Rival Caliphates in the West during the Tenth Century Chapter 3: The Long Eleventh Century: Dissolution of Empire Chapter 4: The Almoravids and Almohads ca. 1050-ca. 1250 Chapter 5: The Nasrids in al-Andalus Chapter 6: The Heirs of the Almohads in North Africa, ca. 1250-1500 Chapter 7: Caught between the Ottomans and the Hapsburgs: Chapter 8: The Sharifan Dynasties of Morocco 1500-1800 Chapter 9: Epilogue: The Legacies of Maghribi Architecture Glossary Works Cited Index

    15 in stock

    £45.00

  • Sacred Spaces

    Phaidon Press Ltd Sacred Spaces

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis30 outstanding examples of contemporary religious architectureTrade Review"Beautifully photographed, and elegantly elucidated by James Pallister, Sacred Spaces is a field report from the cult of Corbusier... Pallister has captured their enduring aspirations – and their fleeting perfection."—Washington Post "The great strength of this anthology is the detailed coverage of every project... Combine with lucid layouts and high production values to make this a covetable volume..."—Architects Newspaper "Gorgeous... An elegant,a attractive book... A seductive collection of buildings... The pictures are superb."—Icon - Edwin Heathcote "Pallster’s pertinently and lavishly illustrated new book comes as a revelation... So many unexpected glories... A compilation that provokes fresh thinking."—The Tablet "Ground breaking and enlightening... Spectacular photography, drawings and accompanying texts."—Wallpaper.com

    15 in stock

    £33.96

  • Mosques Splendors of Islam

    Rizzoli International Publications Mosques Splendors of Islam

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFOREWORD INDIES Book of the Year Awards — 2017 GOLD Winner for ArchitectureOne of the most important and authoritative books to celebrate mosque architecture and Islamic design, featuring many exquisite newly commissioned photographs.   This visually striking volume illustrates over sixty of the most venerated mosques from historic monuments such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque to today’s most dynamic new designs exemplified by the Sancaklar Mosque. Essays by prominent architecture and design authorities include Professor Sussan Babaie, Andrew W. Mellon Reader in the Arts of Iran and Islam, The Courtauld Institute of Art, London; Distinguished Professor Walter B. Denny, Department of the History of Art and Architecture, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Heather Ecker, Visiting Professor, Art and Archaeology, Columbia University; Professor Mohammed Hamdouni Alami, Archaeological R

    15 in stock

    £48.00

  • The Gothic Enterprise

    University of California Press The Gothic Enterprise

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe great Gothic cathedrals of Europe are among the most astonishing achievements of Western culture. This title explores why medieval people built Gothic cathedrals, how they built them, what conception of the divine lay behind their creation, and how religious and secular leaders used cathedrals for social and political purposes.Table of ContentsPreface to the 2011 Edition Acknowledgments Introduction: A Personal Journey Part I: A Grand Undertaking 1 What Is the Gothic Enterprise? 2 How Were the Cathedrals Built? Part II: History 3 Kings, Feudal Lords, and Great Monasteries 4 The Age of Cathedral-Building 5 The Initial Vision 6 “The Cathedral Crusade” Part III: The Gothic Look 7 What Is the Gothic Look? 8 An Image of Heaven 9 A Pragmatic View of Cathedral-Building Part IV: The Religious Experience 10 Sacred Force and Sacred Space 11 Imagining the Cathedral 12 Honoring the Dead Part V: The Gothic Community 13 Medieval Living Conditions 14 The Spiritual Brokers—Priests and Monarchs 15 Cathedrals and Community Conclusion: Learning from Stonehenge Appendix: Terminology Notes Bibliography List of Illustrations and Credits Index

    7 in stock

    £20.70

  • Sigurd Lewerentz – Pure Aesthetics: St Mark's

    Park Books Sigurd Lewerentz – Pure Aesthetics: St Mark's

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisSt Mark’s Church in Björkhagen, one of Stockholm’s southern districts, is one of Sigurd Lewerentz’s (1885-1975) key designs. But unlike Lewerentz’s other famous church, St Peter’s in Klippan, no book has been published to date that constitutes a fitting tribute to this masterpiece of brick brutalism. This opulent new building monograph now fills this gap. Some 300 new colour photographs and especially drawn explanatory plans, alongside essays by distinguished authorities on Lewerentz’s architecture, turn this book into a visual feast. It demonstrates the exquisitely atmospheric St Mark’s Church both as a standalone object and in the context of its surrounding urban landscape. Moreover, it picks out many details, such as the floor coverings, furnishings, lamps, banisters, the altar, and other liturgical features. The essays explore aspects of materiality and topics such as the church’s special acoustics and atmosphere in an attempt to reveal the secret of Sigurd Lewerentz’s church designs.

    1 in stock

    £54.00

  • How to Look at Stained Glass: A Guide to the

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How to Look at Stained Glass: A Guide to the

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA fresh, unstuffy guide to the stained-glass windows of England's churches, including a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples. The magical qualities of stained glass have an enduring appeal, but church windows tend to be ignored as a form of creative and artistic expression. Yet churches are accessible treasure trove of history, art and craftsmanship. No other set of historic buildings with such superb and important architectural and artists assets is as easy to visit. How to Look at Stained Glass is the companion guide that's needed to make sense of and enjoy the vast array of stained-glass windows in the churches of England. This fresh, unstuffy guide: - Uses an A-Z format to reveal a multitude of fascinating details - all the way from apples to zig-zags - Explores stained glass by themes, patterns, designs and effects - Requires no previous historical, artistic or religious knowledge - Covers all the major periods and styles, from medieval to modern, Victorian to postwar, eighteenth century to Arts and Crafts, figurative to abstract - Examines the fascinating and evolving iconography of stained glass - Makes looking at gloriously colourful, artistically important windows both entertaining and rewarding - Features a list of the top 50 places to see outstanding examples - Offers a useful index of churches by countyTrade ReviewIf you venture out into the country, whether by car, bicycle, or train, it would be a good idea to tuck this book into the glove compartment, pannier, or rucksack * Church Times *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Exploring a Church How a Stained-Glass Window is Made A–Z of Stained Glass 50 Places to See Stained Glass Further Reading List of Images Index of Churches

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • What the Emperor Built

    University of Washington Press What the Emperor Built

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review"What the Emperor Built will make even those familiar with the city’s ancient buildings feel that while they may have looked, they perhaps did not entirely see." * South China Morning Post *"[A] detailed study of the architecture created during the early Ming dynasty reign of Yung Lo" * Choice *"[O]ne of her book’s greatest strengths lies in the clarity of both the argument and the handsomely reproduced illustrations presented in its pages...the story of magnificent buildings and the millions involved in their construction is sure to inspire lively discussions about the profound impact of Yongle’s architectural vision on global architectural history and global history as a whole." * Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians *"The book is remarkable for its successful integration of architectural with political and economic history, disciplines that are usually practiced separately... This is architectural history at its best, and sets a standard for future work in the field." * Journal of the American Oriental Society *"State architecture is a transformative art of power and persuasion. In What the Emperor Built Aurelia Campbell employs this lens of Ming imperial architecture to capture how Yongle (r.1402–1424) mobilized a standardized architectural vision to project legitimacy and counter his problematic rise to power through nepoticide and civil war." * Chinese Historical Review *

    2 in stock

    £55.80

  • Saving Michelangelos Dome

    Pegasus Books Saving Michelangelos Dome

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn 1742, when the legendary dome atop St. Peter’s Basilica—designed by Michelangelo—cracks and threatens to collapse, Pope Benedict XIV summons three mathematicians whose groundbreaking ideas spark a revolution in the world of architecture.1742: the famous dome atop Saint Peter’s Basilica, designed by Michelangelo, is fractured and threatened with collapse. The dome is the pride of Italy and the largest of its kind anywhere in the world. And no one knows how to fix it. This engaging and colorful narrative tells the overlooked story of how Michelangelo’s Dome was saved from disaster by three mathematicians and Pope Benedict XIV, who had asked them for help. It is a gripping story of decisive leadership, crisis management, and scientific innovation, and the resistance that was faced when sailing into the headwinds of conventional thought. In Saving Michelangelo''s Dome, Stanford-trained engineer Wayne Kalayjian illustr

    7 in stock

    £19.80

  • Fondazione Renzo Piano Ronchamp Ronchamp Gateway and Monastery

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £34.00

  • Temples of Deccan India: Hindu and Jain, 7th to

    ACC Art Books Temples of Deccan India: Hindu and Jain, 7th to

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated book showcases the Hindu and Jain temples of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka built prior to the invasion of peninsular India by the Delhi sultans at the end of the 13th century. Unlike temples in many other parts of India, those of the Deccan are well preserved, with their wealth of figural and decorative carvings miraculously intact. They demonstrate the development of Indian sacred architecture and art over a span of more than 600 years. Focusing on some 50 historical sites, the Temples of Deccan India begins with artificially excavated “cave” shrines dedicated to various Hindu deities, before proceeding on to examine free-standing Hindu and Jain monuments sponsored by successive rulers of the Deccan. Attention is paid to the beautiful sculptures found on temple basements, walls, brackets and ceilings. Carved in crisp relief, and sometimes even in three dimensions, these carvings are among the greatest glories of Indian stone art. Among the featured highlights are the cave temple on the island of Elephanta, with its stupendous representation of three-headed Sadashiva; the colossal, monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora, a technical feat unsurpassed in the entire history of Indian architecture; the magnificent columned pavilion at Hanamkonda, now currently being reconstructed; and the temple at Belur, with its exquisitely carved female figural brackets. Specially commissioned plans of temple layouts accompany 300+ photographs. and clarify the succession of dynasties that governed the Deccan during the centuries covered here. Maps locate the temple sites, while passages of text illuminate the succession of dynasties that governed the Deccan from the 7th to 13th centuries. Educational, accessible and beautifully illustrated, this book will be of interest to anyone fascinated by Indian architecture.

    1 in stock

    £44.00

  • CathedralThe Story of Its Construction

    HarperCollins CathedralThe Story of Its Construction

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £11.70

  • The Green Man

    Amberley Publishing The Green Man

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisUnravelling the folklore and history of the foliate head, or green man, in ecclesiastical architecture.

    7 in stock

    £14.39

  • Bath Abbeys Monuments

    The History Press Ltd Bath Abbeys Monuments

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisBath Abbey contains the largest collection of monuments in any UK church or cathedral. But how did the ruined Abbey of 1539 become a Georgian gallery of sculpture', where the latest works of art by famous sculptors could be seen? And why are their appearances today so different from their original designs?Long before the city's now-celebrated museums and galleries were established, the Abbey's monuments were one of Bath's newsworthy tourist attractions. Drawing on a wealth of unpublished material on the Abbey's history, this book tells the story of its monuments for the first time how they helped the Abbey rise from the aftermath of the Dissolution to give it a new identity, a unique floor, and walls that tell the social history of Bath.Trade ReviewExtract featured in Autumn edition of The Bath MagazineHandsomely illustrated and full of insight, his book will be of real value to anyone interested in the history of the Abbey, of the city, and of memorials more generally. * Church Times *

    15 in stock

    £18.70

  • Englands Cathedrals

    Little, Brown Book Group Englands Cathedrals

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis''Inspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar'' - The TimesEngland''s cathedrals are the nation''s glory. They tower over its landscape, outranking palaces, castles and mansions. They attract roughly half the nation''s population each year. For a millennium they have been objects of pilgrimage for those seeking faith, consolation and beauty. Still at the start of the twenty-first century, they remain unequalled in their size and splendour.More than any other English institution, cathedrals reflect the vicissitudes of history and should be treasured as such. They are custodians of culture and of the rituals of civic life. They offer welfare and relieve suffering. They uplift spirits with their beauty. In a real sense they are still what they were when first built a millennium ago, a glimpse of the sublime.Gloriously illustrated throughout, England''s Cathedrals not only offers us a companion to England''s Thousand Trade ReviewInspired . . . encourages us to take a fresh look at the familiar * The Times *An essential supplement to his marvellously illuminating guidebook England's Thousand Best Churches * Evening Standard *

    15 in stock

    £31.50

  • Churches of Cornwall

    Amberley Publishing Churches of Cornwall

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of Cornwallâs historic churches that will be of interest to residents and visitors alike.

    3 in stock

    £14.39

  • Hawksmoors London Churches  Architecture

    The University of Chicago Press Hawksmoors London Churches Architecture

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisSix remarkable churches built by Nicholas Hawksmoor from 1712 to 1731 still stand in London. This work examines these designs as a coherent whole - a single masterpiece reflecting Hawksmoor's design principles and his desire to reconnect architecturally with pure Christianity.Trade Review"Du Prey's well-argued book enhances our understanding of Hawksmoor's design processes, and sheds light into the murky corners of early 18th-century theological and political concerns. This latest book adds lustre to an engaging writer's reputation." - James Stevens Curl, Building Design "The close study of Nicholas Hawksmoor's churches in London extends du Prey's fascination with the legacy, appropriation, and adaption of classical principles and motifs in the evolving pattern of architectural representation.... The resulting book is a fascinating reconstruction of the social networks and cultural resources upon which Hawksmoor drew in designing his remarkable churches, enriched by intelligent analysis of the architectural fabric." - Choice

    1 in stock

    £34.20

  • Matisse: Chapel at Vence

    Royal Academy of Arts Matisse: Chapel at Vence

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisConsidered one of the most important religious structures of the twentieth century, the Chapel of the Rosary in Vince was regarded by Matisse himself as his great masterpiece. He dedicated four years to the creation of this convent chapel on the French Riviera, and the result is one of the most remarkable and comprehensive ensemble pieces of twentieth-century art. Every element of the chapel bears the artists touch, from the vivid Mediterranean hues of the stained glass windows to the starkly powerful murals; even the vestments and altar were designed by Matisse. This beautifully illustrated volume captures the chapel in exquisite detail, allowing an unparalleled view of this iconic and sacred space. With stunning new photography that captures the dramatic effects of the changing light in the building throughout the day, this book is the first to present the experience of being within the chapel exactly as Matisse himself envisaged it, while Marie-Therese Pulvenis de Selignys authoritative and insightful text explores the extraordinary story of the chapels creation and the challenges faced by the 77-year-old artist in realising his great vision.

    2 in stock

    £31.50

  • Church Misericords and Bench Ends

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Church Misericords and Bench Ends

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith the increasing disappearance of stained glass in medieval churches, the surviving wood carvings on church misericords and bench ends are extremely important in providing an insight into the medieval mind. This book outlines the history of church seating and discusses the craftsmen and the influences behind their work.

    15 in stock

    £8.54

  • How to Read Churches

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC How to Read Churches

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis handy, easy-to-carry book will providethe reader with a strictly visual approach to reading the architecture of thechurch.Table of ContentsIntroduction Building Types Church Types A Grammar of Styles Materials Floor Plans The Nave Apses & Sanctuaries Choirs & Stalls Vaulting & Buttresses Domes & Cupolas Façades & Portals Baptisteries & Fonts Windows & Tracery Towers & Spires Altars & Tabernacles Stained Glass Ornaments & Symbols Glossary Resources Index Acknowledgements

    15 in stock

    £11.69

  • Churches

    Yale University Press Churches

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £14.24

  • Churches of Paris

    ACC Art Books Churches of Paris

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisParisian churches are revered around the globe. Their stunning stained-glass windows and intricate Gothic architecture are accomplishments of unrivalled elegance. Churches of Paris gathers 37 of the finest in the City of Light, spanning the 12th to the 19th centuries. Each entry is embellished with beautiful colour photography and behind-the-scenes historical commentary. Offering insight into the buildings’ construction and genesis, this book narrates how each church was shaped by war, revolution and time. With information on restoration and preservation, this is an invaluable guide for Francophiles and curious armchair travellers alike. Featured churches include: Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Basilique Sainte-Clotilde, Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame Cathedral, La Chapelle de l’Epiphanie des Missions Etrangères et la Salle des Martyrs, La Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse, La Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, La Madeleine, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Cathedral Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky, Saint-Augustin, La Sainte-Chapelle, Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie, Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, La Sainte-Trinité, Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile, Saint-Eustache, Saint-François-Xavier, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais, Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas, Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes, Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Saint-Louis-en-l’Île, Saint-Merry, Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, Saint-Roch, Saint-Séverin, Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, The American Cathedral in Paris Table of ContentsCONTENTS Introduction by Scott Simon 9 1st Arrondissement La Sainte-Chapelle 10 Saint-Eustache 24 Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois 34 Saint-Roch 42 2nd Arrondissement Notre-Dame-des-Victoires 52 3rd Arrondissement Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie 60 Notre-Dame Cathedral 68 Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux 84 Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais 90 Saint-Louis-en-l’Île 101 Saint-Merry 106 Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis 114 5th Arrondissement Saint-Étienne-du-Mont 120 Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas 130 Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 136 Saint-Séverin 144 6th Arrondissement La Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul 152 Saint-Germain-des-Prés 160 Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes 170 Saint-Sulpice 178 7th Arrondissement Basilique Sainte-Clotilde 188 La Chapelle de l’Epiphanie des Missions Etrangères et la Salle des Martyrs 194 La Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse 198 Saint-François-Xavier 206 Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin 216 8th Arrondissement Cathedral Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky 224 La Madeleine 234 Saint-Augustin 242 The American Cathedral in Paris 251 9th Arrondissement Notre-Dame-de-Lorette 260 La Sainte-Trinité 270 Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile 276 10th Arrondissement Saint-Vincent-de-Paul 280 11th Arrondissement Sainte-Marguerite 290 18th Arrondissement Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre 298 Saint-Pierre de Montmartre 306 Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis 314 Acknowledgements 330 Author’s Note 331 About the Authors 331 Selected Bibliography 332

    1 in stock

    £38.25

  • Notre Dame Cathedral

    Pennsylvania State University Press Notre Dame Cathedral

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisA visual survey of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris over the past 850 years. Addresses a series of key themes in the cathedral’s history, including the fundraising campaign, the construction of vaults, and the liturgical function of the choir.Trade Review“Smaller, more concise, and more streamlined than a traditional monograph, it emphasizes a series of graphics developed from Tallon’s 3D-scan data, which together purport to show the development of Notre-Dame over the nine centuries of its history. In this way it helps to make the fruits of recent research on the cathedral’s history readily accessible to nonspecialist readers. The new translation undertaken by Lindsay Cook, who studied with both Murray and Tallon and whose own research considers parish churches constructed in the orbit of Notre-Dame, now effectively expands that mission to anglophone audiences.”—Robert Bork caa.reviews“With up-to-date scholarship and information from a laser scan now being consulted for the repairs of Notre Dame, this survey is at once authoritative and accessible, an important addition to the specialist and non-specialist libraries alike.”—Nancy Wu SpeculumTable of ContentsIntroduction 11163: Planning the CathedralThe BishopThe Cathedral ChapterThe FabricResourcesEpiscopal DonationsCapitular DonationsLay Donations1170: Building the CathedralThe MaterialsThe Master MasonThe DesignThe Construction1177: Constructing the VaultsThe VaultsTechnical Aspects of Vault ConstructionThe Space of the Choir1182: Liturgical Choir and SanctuaryThe Liturgical ChoirStaging the Ecclesiastical HierarchyThe Medieval Sanctuary1208: Form and MeaningThe ChoirThe Nave1220: Portals and the Gallery of Kings1225: Changing TastesA Radical TransformationThe ChangesInstability of the West Front1245: Towers and Bells, Marking Time at the CathedralThe Casting of a Bell1265: Relics and ProcessionsRelics and ReliquariesStational Liturgy and Processions1300: Pious Foundations and TombsThe Choir: Preserve of Prelates and PrincesThe ChapelsConfraternities at Notre Dame1350: A Point of ReferenceThe ArchitectsDirecting the Works1780: Baroque Transformations1860: The Major Restoration of Lassus and Viollet-le-DucNotre Dame in PerilThe Invention of French Cultural HeritageThe CompetitionThe ProjectThe RestorationThe Rational CathedralThe Cathedral TodayConclusionPlan of Notre DameGlossarySelected BibliographyCredits

    3 in stock

    £26.96

  • Romanesque Churches of Spain: A Traveller's Guide

    Giles de la Mare Publishers Romanesque Churches of Spain: A Traveller's Guide

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe widespead and numerous Romanesque churches in the northern half of Spain rival those of France for their distinctiveness and originality and for their remarkable sculpture. They were mainly built between about 1000 and 1200 and mirror the progressive rolling back of Islamic power in the long reconquista, first of all along the north coast and in Catalonia, which was only occupied by the Muslims for about a hundred years, and then in Leon and Castile. Their architectural styles vary greatly from region to region, and some of them contain fine frescoes as well. Romanesque style introduced the first revival of the art of sculpture since Roman times, and in Spain there good examples of decorative carving as far back as the seventh century. It was the age of pilgrimages and many of the churches were founded along the pilgrim routes from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which are popular destinations for travellers in Spain today. Romanesque Churches of Spain, which covers a hundred and twenty churches in Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre and the Basque Country, Cantabria, Castile, Leon, Asturias and Galicia, and includes no less than twenty pre-Romanesque churches in the Visigothic, Asturian and Mozarabic styles of 600-1000, many with exotic features such as the horseshoe arch, is the first comprehensive book to be published on the subject. It is a perfect companion for travellers, with its ten maps and its regional arrangement, and will be a stimulus for the exploration of wild and remote areas that are unfamiliar to many people, especially across the Pyrenees and in the mountainous areas of Aragon, Cantabria and Asturias. It will also be invaluable as a reference book, with its 262 illustrations, for all those with a general interest in the history of Spanish architecture and sculpture, many of the churches possessing outstanding examples such as Santiago de Compostela, Jaca, Soria, Agramunt, Ripoll, Armentia, Estibaliz, Sanguesa, Santo Domingo de Silos and San Pedro de la Nave. Peter Strafford is a distinguished journalist who worked on the Times for more than three decades, including in Paris and Brussels, and was, among other things, the Times correspondent in New York for five years. His acclaimed Romanesque Churches of France has recently been reprinted.Table of ContentsAcknowledgement vi Place Names vi Glossary ix General Introduction 1 Historical background 12 Monasteries 21 Pilgrimages 25 Before Romanesque 32 Catalonia Introduction 33 Barcelona: Sant Pau del Camp 37 Besalu 40 Bossost and the Vall d'Aran: Bossost, Vielha, SalardA' 42 Cardona 44 Corbera 47 L'Estany 49 Frontanya 52 Gerri de la Sal 54 Girona 55 Lleida 60 Montserrat: Santa Cecilia 64 Poblet, Santes Creus, Vallbona de les Monges 65 Ponts and Agramunt 71 Ripoll 74 Sant Benet de Bages 80 Sant Cugat del Valles 83 Sant Joan de les Abadesses 86 Sant Pere de Casserres 89 Sant Pere de Rodes 91 La Seu d'Urgell 94 Tarragona 100 Taull and the Vall de Boi: Taull, Boi, Erill la Vall 102 Terrassa 111 La Tossa de Montbui 115 Aragon Introduction 117 Aguero 119 Alquezar 122 Huesca 126 Jaca 130 Larrede 135 Loarre 137 San Juan de la Pena 141 Siresa 146 Sos del Rey Catolico 147 Uncastillo 150 Navarre and the Basque Country Introduction 155 Armentia 156 Estella 162 Estibaliz 168 Eunate 172 Leyre 174 Sanguesa 180 San Vicentejo 186 Torres del Rio 188 Tudela 192 Cantabria Introduction 195 Castaneda 196 Cervatos 198 Santa Maria de Lebena 201 Santillana del Mar 203 Castile and La Rioja Introduction 209 Avila 211 Banos de Cerrato 217 Fromista 220 Quintanilla de las Vinas 223 Rebolledo de la Torre 225 San Baudelio de Berlanga 228 San Cebrian de Mazote 231 San Esteban de Gormaz 235 San Lorenzo de Vallejo 239 San Millan de la Cogolla 241 San Pantaleon de Losa 244 San Pedro de Tejada 247 San Quirce 251 Santa Maria de Wamba 253 Santo Domingo de Silos 258 Segovia 266 Sepulveda 283 Soria 284 Leon Introduction 293 Leon 295 Sahagun 302 Salamanca 305 San Miguel de Escalada 309 San Pedro de la Nave 313 San Pedro de las Duenas 316 Santa Marta de Tera 318 Santiago de Penalba 321 Toro 323 Zamora 326 Asturias Introduction 337 Oviedo: Camara Santa and Santullano 338 Oviedo: Santa Maria de Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo 342 San Salvador de Priesca 346 San Salvador de Valdedios 348 Santa Cristina de Lena 350 Galicia Introduction 353 Aciveiro 355 Cambre 358 Celanova 361 Mondonedo 362 Santa Comba de Bande 365 Santiago de Compostela: Cathedral 367 Santiago de Compostela: Santa Maria de Sar 380 Vilar de Donas 383 Index 386

    1 in stock

    £15.29

  • Medieval Church Window Tracery in England

    Boydell & Brewer Ltd Medieval Church Window Tracery in England

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA comprehensive review of the wide and varied range of window tracery designs that emerged during the medieval period. While the terms used to describe the tracery of medieval church windows are familiar (Early English, Decorated, Perpendicular), there has been no really detailed attempt to examine it as a distinct, stylistic architectural form, agap which this book seeks to address. Based upon a visual catalogue of over 250 images of surviving types and styles from churches throughout England, it traces the progression of ideas and the continuity of motifs and themes intracery patterns from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries, showing how different themes emerged within the main architectural styles; it also looks at the distinction between a window's architectural form and its tracery style, and describes the several different tracery techniques. The volume is completed with a detailed glossary. Stephen Hart is a retired architect, and the author of numerous works, including Flint Flushwork.Trade ReviewA comprehensive, sophisticated and long overdue survey of the development of Gothic church window tracery. * CHURCH MONUMENTS *It will be a most useful vade mecum for the enthusiastic church visitor. [...] A comprehensive overview of English parochial tracery design. * ECCLESIOLOGY TODAY *Anyone interested in medieval windows will enjoy the great range of examples put forward and discussed by Hart, whose book is a timely reminder of the ingenuity and creativity of England's medieval masons. * JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF HISTORIC BUILDING CONSERVATION *A perceptive, informative, beautifully written, and well-illustrated study of the topic. * SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS NEWSLETTER *In a methodical, clear and notably well-illustrated fashion (there are good plates of some 300 windows) it traces the evolution of tracery through the Lancet, Geometric, Curvilinear and Perpendicular styles. * BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY *The varieties of such stonework are splendidly analysed and illustrated. -- Christopher Howse * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

    15 in stock

    £23.74

  • Divine New York

    Abbeville Press Inc.,U.S. Divine New York

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor the past 15 years, Michael L. Horowitz has been photographing the interiors of Manhattan's historic churches and synagogues. Though their exteriors are often unassuming and overlooked by passers-by, their interiors are spectacular, uplifting worshippers and architectural devotees alike. In this book, Horowitz takes us from Lower to Upper Manhattan, from the colourful wall paintings of Bialystocker Synagogue, to the jewel-like stained glass windows of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, to the awe-inspiring wooden ceiling of the Holy Name of Jesus and Saint Gregory the Great Parish. A lively and informative text by Elizabeth Anne Hartman tells the stories behind each of the 65 houses of worship featured. These sacred edifices reflect the hopes and aspirations of the many different communities that helped build the metropolis, expressed in numerous architectural and artistic styles. And many of these interiors bear the imprint of notable personalities in Big Apple history, from Clement MooTable of ContentsForeword 8 By Craig R. Whitney preface 10 LOWER MANHATTAN Trinity Church 89 Broadway 14 John Street United Methodist Church 44 John Street 20 St. Paul’s Chapel 209 Broadway 24 St. Peter’s Church 22 Barclay Street 28 Church of the Transfiguration 29 Mott Street 32 Eldridge Street Synagogue 12 Eldridge Street 34 Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood 113 Baxter Street 40 St. Mary Grand 440 Grand Street 42 Bialystoker Synagogue 7–11 Bialystoker Place 46 Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum 280 Broome Street 50 First Roumanian American Congregation (demolished) 89–93 Rivington Street 54 Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral 263 Mulberry Street 56 SOHO, GREENWICH VILLAGE, CHELSEA St. Joseph’s Church 371 Sixth Avenue 64 St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church 288 East 10th Street 68 First Presbyterian Church 12 West 12th Street 72 Grace Church 802 Broadway 76 Church of St. Francis Xavier 46 West 16th Street 80 St. George’s Church 209 East 16th Street 84 St. Peter's Episcopal Church 346 West 20th Street 88 MIDTOWN WEST St. John the Baptist 213 West 30th Street 94 Church of St. Francis of Assisi 135 West 31st Street 98 Shrine and Parish Church of the Holy Innocents 128 West 37th Street 102 Holy Cross Church 329 West 42nd Street 106 Church of St. Mary the Virgin 145 West 46th Street 110 Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 457 West 51st Street 116 St. Thomas Church 1 West 53rd Street 120 Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church 7 West 55th Street 126 MIDTOWN EAST Calvary Church 277 Park Avenue South 132 Our Lady of the Scapular (closed) 151 East 28th Street 136 St. Patrick’s Cathedral 625 Fifth Avenue 140 St. Bartholomew’s Church 325 Park Avenue 150 Central Synagogue 652 Lexington Avenue 156 UPPER WEST SIDE Church of St. Paul the Apostle 405 West 59th Street 164 Congregation Shearith Israel 8 West 70th Street 168 Church of the Blessed Sacrament 152 West 71st Street 172 West End Collegiate Church 245 West 77th Street 176 First Baptist Church 265 West 79th Street 178 Holy Trinity Catholic Church 213 West 82nd Street 182 Congregation Rodeph Sholom 7 West 83rd Street 186 B’nai Jeshurun 257 West 88th Street 190 Advent Lutheran Church 2504 Broadway 194 Holy Name of Jesus 207 West 96th Street 198 Ansche Chesed 251 West 100th Street 202 Church of the Ascension 221 West 107th Street 272 206 Cathedral of St. John the Divine 1047 Amsterdam Avenue 208 UPPER EAST SIDE Central Presbyterian Church 593 Park Avenue 218 Temple Emanu-El 1 East 65th Street 220 Church of St. Vincent Ferrer 869 Lexington Avenue 226 Park East Synagogue 163 East 67th Street 230 St. John the Martyr (demolished) 250 East 72nd Street 234 Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church 921 Madison Avenue 236 Church of the Resurrection 119 East 74th Street 240 Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity 337 East 74th Street 242 St. Jean Baptiste Church 184 East 76th Street 246 Church of St. Monica 413 East 79th Street 250 St. Stephen of Hungary (closed) 414 East 82nd Street 254 Church of St. Ignatius Loyola 980 Park Avenue 256 St. Elizabeth of Hungary (closed) 211 East 83rd Street 260 Church of the Heavenly Rest 1085 Fifth Avenue 264 Our Lady of Good Counsel 230 East 90th Street 268 HARLEM Salem United Methodist Church 211 West 129th Street 274 All Saints Church (closed) 47 East 129th Street 278 Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church 140–6 West 137th Street 282 Abyssinian Baptist Church 132 Odell Clark Place 286 Church of the Intercession 550 West 155th Street 290 Acknowledgments 296 Recomm ended Reading 297 Index 298 Photo Credits 304

    1 in stock

    £35.96

  • Kutná Hora - Sedlec: Cathedral Church and

    Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers Ltd Kutná Hora - Sedlec: Cathedral Church and

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist in Kutná Hora – Sedlec, the convent church of the former oldest Cistercian abbey in Bohemia (est. 1142), has been recorded in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of almost 900 years of history of this remarkable place, which experienced days of glory as well as dark periods of war and plague. Today, people from all over the world come to admire the cathedral, whose current appearance was fundamentally influenced by the Baroque reconstruction performed by the brilliant architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel (1677–1723). The nearby Church of All Saints then receives even more attention thanks to its Ossuary which is decorated with unique skeletal ornaments. It is the only ossuary in the world where human remains have been used as design elements, and yet (or perhaps because of that), it carries a powerful message of memento mori. Whether you are interested in history, art, architecture or religion, the former Cistercian abbey of Kutná Hora – Sedlec has it all and much more.

    1 in stock

    £8.96

  • The History of Englands Cathedrals

    Yale University Press The History of Englands Cathedrals

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe first history of all the English cathedrals, from Birmingham and Bury St Edmunds to Worcester and York MinsterTrade Review“A fascinating and detailed description of the historical development of the English cathedral from the arrival of Christianity in A.D. 314 until the present day.”—Joan Greatrex, Catholic Historical Review“Delightful. . . . A history of English cathedrals as living institutions as well as architectural monuments.”—Peter Atkinson, Journal of Ecclesiastical History“Magisterial. . . . Charts the remarkable voyage of cathedrals during their 1700-year history.”—Michael Tavinor, Church Times“A masterful narrator of the Cathedral story. . . . Cathedrals stand as shrines to the beauty of human creation, beauty as yet unsurpassed. To their survival we should all be dedicated.”—Simon Jenkins, Country Life“The Cathedrals of England are institutions older than the realm itself, and are perhaps more cherished and flourishing now than they have ever been, as this richly enjoyable volume makes clear. There can be no-one better qualified than Nicholas Orme to present the full range of their long history.”—Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity“Clear, accessible, and superbly illustrated, this book should be essential reading for visitors to English cathedrals. The book has no rival in serious and accessible literature. Anyone interested in cathedrals should have it on their shelves.”—David Rollason, author of The Power of Place

    15 in stock

    £19.00

  • The Synagogue Project: On the Reconstruction of

    Park Books The Synagogue Project: On the Reconstruction of

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisGermany is currently experiencing an intense debate about the reconstruction of synagogues that were destroyed under Nazi rule in the 1930s, and the related search for an appropriate architectural expression of Jewish life and culture in the country’s major cities today. This book, which results from a collaboration between the Technical Universities of Darmstadt and Dresden, Hamburg’s HafenCity University, and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, vividly contributes to this discussion. The Synagogue Project features designs for new synagogues replacing the lost buildings on Berlin’s Fraenkelufer and on Joseph-Carlebach-Platz and Poolstrasse in Hamburg by students at the participating universities. They illustrate the search for a structural expression that can provide space for Jewish life and worship in the future. In conversation, members of Jewish communities and Franz-Josef Höing, representing the City of Hamburg’s department of urban development and housing, explain their views on the past and future of synagogues in Hamburg and Berlin. Mirjam Wenzel, director of the Jewish Museum in Frankfurt, Salomon Korn, former vice-president of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, Rabbi Edward van Voolen, and Swiss architect Roger Diener also contribute to the discussion on the history and significance of spaces for Jewish life, culture, and religion in German cities. Text in English and German.

    2 in stock

    £31.50

  • Architectural Ornamentation in Shrines & Mosques

    Roli Books Pvt Ltd Architectural Ornamentation in Shrines & Mosques

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisRichly designed with beautiful images and illustrations, this edition, published in collaboration with INTACH Kashmir Chapter, is a celebration of architectural ornamentation in shrines and mosques of one of the most beautiful regions of India. The book is also a study to understand the Islamic architecture in the era of continuity and change.

    10 in stock

    £33.25

  • Steeple Chasing

    Headline Publishing Group Steeple Chasing

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times paperback bestseller and Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month*Featuring a brand new chapter!*''Never have the joys of exploring the churches and cathedrals of this country been so vividly conveyed as they are in this engaging and elegiac book.'' - New Statesman **BOOK OF THE YEAR pick 2023**''A delicious treat'' - Financial Times **TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR pick 2023**''A charming odyssey'' - The Times''A wonderful book; thoughtful and challenging'' - Daily Telegraph *****''A beautiful book'' - Gabriel Byrne ''Beautiful and brilliant. I loved it'' - Fergus Butler-Gallie From the author of A Tomb With a View - Scottish Non-Fiction book of the Year Churches are all around us. Their steeples remain landmarks in our towns, villages and cities, even as their influeTrade ReviewWhat makes Steeple Chasing so compelling - and it is a wonderful book; thoughtful and challenging - ... is Ross's essential kindness, his unfailing empathy with the people he meets on his pilgrimage. * Daily Telegraph *A charming odyssey . . . in this lyrical love letter to churches Ross reminds us there is something worth saving and people who will make the effort. * The Times *His book is a delicious treat, and one that both believers and sceptics will enjoy. * Financial Times *Reading a book is another reciprocal act: if it's good, it stays with you. Ross's readers will have his words humming through them for a long time. * Spectator *Lovely, lyrical, whimsical, elegiac ... Ross has a gift for making you feel you're there with him, just as awed as he is. * Times Literary Supplement *Ross has always had a quiet charm, and it is perhaps displayed best in this book. . . it is properly interested in humanity, especially in its complexity. * The Scotsman *Steeple Chasing is, as you might expect from Ross, itself a beautiful object, full of delicacy and deliberation in the writing. . .a fascinating, beautifully written book full of both the strange and the terrible, but also full of grace and love. * The Herald *Beautifully observed and evocatively written. * Country Life *Never less than fascinating. * Books From Scotland *

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Gaudi

    HarperCollins Publishers Gaudi

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe first critical biography of one of the twentieth century's greatest architectsAt the time of his death in 1926, Antoni Gaudi was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture, that were as exotic as they were outrageous. A precurser to the other great Catalan artists Picasso, Dali and Bunuel, Gaudi created dramatically original and daring art that was to surpass and reinvent all that had gone before.Gijs van Hensbergen's book is a masterly biography, capturing both the power and importance of Gaudi's work and the unique spirit of Catalan culture. In life and in death, Gaudi lived by extravagant gestures and a creativity that bordered on madness. Even his legendary death under a tram as he stepped back to admire his cathedral in Barcelona has the hint of absurdity and poetry.Today, Gaudi has become an icon of artistic integrity and genius, for religious piety and for unstinting love for his homeland, Catalonia.Trade Review‘This book is written with immense sympathy and understanding for Gaudí himself and his work, but also for the cultural and political background. In its scope and ambition, its clarity and its feeling for the period and the personality, this book is the most definitive book on Gaudí which has yet been produced.’ Colm Toibin 'It is rare for the biography of an architect to be so human and so humorous. Gijs van Hensbergen has managed to recreate in his book that same combination of playfulness and seriousness which characterises Gaudí, and Barcelona. His infectious enthusiasm is conveyed through vibrant and witty prose. Altogether a delight.' Paul Preston

    2 in stock

    £13.49

  • Universe of Stone

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc Universe of Stone

    Book Synopsis

    £17.09

  • Brunelleschis Dome

    Vintage Publishing Brunelleschis Dome

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis''Compelling... fascinating'' Spectator''Abounding with excellent little stories'' Financial TimesThis is the story of one of the most magnificent achievements of the Italian Renaissance, and the architect behind it.Even in an age of soaring skyscrapers and cavernous sports stadiums, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence still retains a rare power to astonish. Yet the elegance of the building belies the tremendous labour, technical ingenuity and bitter personal strife involved in its creation. For over a century after work on the cathedral began, the proposed dome was regarded as all but impossible to build. The greatest architectural puzzle of its age, when finally completed it was hailed as one of the great wonders of the world.This book tells the extraordinary story of how the cupola was raised and of the dome''s architect, the brilliant and volatile Filippo Brunelleschi. Denounced as a madman at the Trade ReviewCompelling... professional jealousy, committee intrigue, feats of bluff and fascinating scraps of obsolete lore... Where Longitude had ocean wastes, Brunelleschi's Dome has vertigo * Spectator *As each novel feat of genius engineering flowers high above the ground, details of scandals and pranks blow up from the city streets to create an altogether enchanting tale -- Dava Sobel, author of LongitudeAn adventure yarn set on the wild frontiers of human knowledge... abounding with excellent stories * Financial Times *A wonderfully vivid little book * Daily Telegraph *

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Mont Saint Michel And Chartres Classics

    Penguin Books Ltd Mont Saint Michel And Chartres Classics

    Book SynopsisMont Saint Michel and Chartres is a record not of a literal jouney but of a meditative journey across time and space into the medieval imagination. Using the architecture, sculpture, and stained glass of the two locales as a starting point, Adams breathes life into what others might see merely as monuments of a past civilization. With daring and inventive conceits, Adams looks at the ordinary people, places, and events in the context of the social conventions and systems of thought and belief of the thirteenth century turning the study of history into a kind of theater.As Raymond Carney discusses in his introduction, Adams' freeedom from the European traditions of study lends an exuberance—and puckish wit—to his writings.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout histTable of ContentsMont Saint Michel and ChartresAcknowledgments Introduction by Raymond Carney A Brief Chronology of Adams' Life A Note on the Text Mont Saint Michel and Chartres Notes Glossary of Architectural Terms Suggestions for Further Reading Index

    £16.92

  • When Church Became Theatre

    Oxford University Press When Church Became Theatre

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFor nearly eighteen centuries, two fundamental spatial plans dominated Christian architecture: the basilica and the central plan. In the 1880s, however, profound socio-economic and technological changes in the United States contributed to the rejection of these traditions and the development of a radically new worship building, the auditorium church. When Church Became Theatre focuses on this radical shift in evangelical Protestant architecture and links it to changes in worship style and religious mission. The auditorium style, featuring a prominent stage from which rows of pews radiated up a sloping floor, was derived directly from the theatre, an unusual source for religious architecture but one with a similar goal-to gather large groups within range of a speaker''s voice. Theatrical elements were prominent; many featured proscenium arches, marquee lighting, theatre seats, and even opera boxes. Examining these churches and the discussions surrounding their development, Jeanne HalgrTrade Review"Kilde's careful and thorough research in published and unpublished congregational denomnational , and architectural records successfully engages architectural history, religious studies, and social and cultural history, and this book will be beneficial to scholars in many disciplines."-- The Journal of Religion"Jeanne Halgren Kilde's impressive new book is a Rosetta stone for an udervalued genre of American ecclesiastical architecture. Kilde's work adds complexity to our understanding of both American religious architecture and American religious history."-- Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians"When Church Became Theatre expands, synthesizes, and enriches the narrative of both American religious history and American architectural history, which will enlighten professional and amateur scholars alike."-- Religious Studies Review"Reading architectural space is a highly rewarding enterprise, and one stands in awe of the author's ability to explore nonwritten texts so creatively. By skillfully chronicling the movement from one church type to another and linking this transformation to the social and cultural concerns of American evangelism, this book not only enriches our understanding of American religious history but also brings what was peripheral to center stage, illuminating old questions and opening up new ones."--Worship"Wonderfully insightful By the book's end, Kilde has enlightened us not only about architecture and interior design, but also about liturgical practice, music, theology, class, gender, power, technology, and the rise of consumer culture. It is hard to convey, in a short review, just how rich this book is." -- Journal of Presbyterian History"Jeanne Kilde's study of auditorium churches is a major contribution to the growing literature on 'reading' religious architecture as an important tool for discerning the significance of the material culture of religion in understanding broader themes in the religious, social, and cultural history of the United States."--Peter W. Williams, Miami University"This original and impressive book demonstrates how relevant the history of religious architecture can be for the study of American history. Jeanne Kilde's careful attention to the lived religion of worship spaces as well as to the cultural politics of space greatly advances the understanding of church architecture in the nineteenth century."--David Morgan, Valparaiso University"This is a very significant book for at least three disciplines: architectural history, church history, and liturgical studies....Kilde shows how changing concepts about the function of worship produced major changes in the design of church buildings, a process which has continued to the present. In so doing, she explains much of the ecclesiastical landscape of America."--James F. White, Drew University

    15 in stock

    £39.09

  • Sacred Power Sacred Space

    Oxford University Press Sacred Power Sacred Space

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisJeanne Halgren Kildes survey of church architecture is unlike any other. Her main concern is not the buildings themselves, but rather the dynamic character of Christianity and how church buildings shape and influence the religion. Kilde argues that a primary function of church buildings is to represent and reify three different types of power: divine power, or ideas about God; personal empowerment as manifested in the individuals perceived relationship to the divine; and social power, meaning the relationships between groups such as clergy and laity. Each type intersects with notions of Christian creed, cult, and code, and is represented spatially and materially in church buildings. Kilde explores these categories chronologically, from the early church to the twentieth century. She considers the form, organization, and use of worship rooms; the location of churches; and the interaction between churches and the wider culture. Church buildings have been integral to Christianity, and KildTrade ReviewJeanne Halgren Kilde's Sacred Power, Sacred Space not only illuminates the intersection of power and space in Christianity, but it also reveals how historical movements and worship practices are revealed in a sacred space. * Julie Durbin, Geneva College, Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith *...raising the question of power and ideology in relation to church architecture is worthwhile and provides plenty of ground for discussion. * Tim Gorringe, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church *Table of Contents1. A Method for Thinking About Power Dynamics in Christian Space ; 2. Early Christian Meeting Space in the Roman Empire ; 3. Imperial Power in Constantinian and Byzantine Churches ; 4. From Abbey to Great Church, Fortress to Heavenly City ; 5. Transformations of the Renaissance and Reformation ; 6. Formalism and Non- or Anti-Formalism in Worship and Architecture ; 7. Historicism, Modernism, and Space ; 8. Concluding Observations

    15 in stock

    £74.25

  • Sacred Power Sacred Space An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship

    Oxford University Press Inc Sacred Power Sacred Space An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisJeanne Halgren Kildes survey of church architecture is unlike any other. Her main concern is not the buildings themselves, but rather the dynamic character of Christianity and how church buildings shape and influence the religion. Kilde argues that a primary function of church buildings is to represent and reify three different types of power: divine power, or ideas about God; personal empowerment as manifested in the individuals perceived relationship to the divine; and social power, meaning the relationships between groups such as clergy and laity. Each type intersects with notions of Christian creed, cult, and code, and is represented spatially and materially in church buildings. Kilde explores these categories chronologically, from the early church to the twentieth century. She considers the form, organization, and use of worship rooms; the location of churches; and the interaction between churches and the wider culture. Church buildings have been integral to Christianity, and KildTrade ReviewJeanne Halgren Kilde's Sacred Power, Sacred Space not only illuminates the intersection of power and space in Christianity, but it also reveals how historical movements and worship practices are revealed in a sacred space. * Julie Durbin, Geneva College, Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith *...raising the question of power and ideology in relation to church architecture is worthwhile and provides plenty of ground for discussion. * Tim Gorringe, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church *Table of Contents1. A Method for Thinking About Power Dynamics in Christian Space ; 2. Early Christian Meeting Space in the Roman Empire ; 3. Imperial Power in Constantinian and Byzantine Churches ; 4. From Abbey to Great Church, Fortress to Heavenly City ; 5. Transformations of the Renaissance and Reformation ; 6. Formalism and Non- or Anti-Formalism in Worship and Architecture ; 7. Historicism, Modernism, and Space ; 8. Concluding Observations

    15 in stock

    £31.02

  • Theology in Stone

    Oxford University Press Theology in Stone

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThinking about church architecture has come to an impasse. Reformers and traditionalists are talking past each other. In Theology in Stone, Richard Kieckhefer seeks to help both sides move beyond the standoff toward a fruitful conversation about houses of worship. Drawing on a wide range of historical examples with an eye to their contemporary relevance, he offers refreshing new ideas about the meanings and uses of church architecture.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: The First Factor: Spatial Dynamics 2: The Second Factor: Centering Focus 3: The Third Factor: Aesthetic Impact 4: The Fourth Factor: Symbolic Resonance 5: Late Medieval Beverley: Traditional Churches in a Traditional Culture 6: Chicago: Traditional Churches in a Modern Culture 7: Rudolph Schwartz: Modern Churches in a Modern Culture 8: Issues in Church Architecture Notes Index

    15 in stock

    £28.34

  • The Body of God An Emperors Palace for Krishna in Eighth Century Kanchipuram

    Oxford University Press The Body of God An Emperors Palace for Krishna in Eighth Century Kanchipuram

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis remarkable book is the crowning achievement of the great scholar of Hinduism, D. Dennis Hudson. Although Hudson died without completing it, the work has been edited and brought to fruition by editor Margaret Case. The book is a finely detailed study of a renowned Tamil Hindu temple, the Vaikuntha Perumal (ca. 770 C.E.). Hudson uses this temple as an illustration of one major current and historical stage in South Indian Vaisnava religion. He offers a sustained reading of the temple as a coherent, organized, minutely conceptualized mandala, whose code can be cracked by close analysis of the temple iconography and structure, in the light of major literary and religious texts. Hudson takes the reader step by step on a tour of the temple, moving from the bottom level up, from one sculpted panel to the next. His primary thesis is that the temple itself constitutes a summa theologica for the Bhagavata tradition centered on Krishna as it had developed through the eighth century-by which time this tradition was already at least a thousand years old and had spread widely across South Asia and into Southeast Asia. He argues that, through its full expression of the theology and religious practices of this tradition, the temple offers a crucial hermeneutical key for understanding other temples and texts of the Bhagavata religion.Trade ReviewDennis Hudson's multidimensional 'decoding' of the 'Emperor's Palace' temple of Lord Vishnu in Kanchipuram is remarkable. He enables us to visualize a three-dimensional vision of God and God's cosmic body in which the central square of the temple symbolizes horizontally a cosmic day and night, and the four levels represent vertically God's transformations in creation and redemption... Dennis Hudson's crowning achievement, almost completed before his death, has been skillfully edited by Margaret Case. It is a gift to his many friends and to all readers who seek a deeper level of understanding of a central Hindu tradition of theology and worship. * John B. Carman, author of The Theology of Ramanuja: An Essay in Interreligious Understanding and Majesty and Meekness: A Comparative Study of Contrast and Harmony in the Concept of God *Table of ContentsEditor's Note: Margaret H. Case ; List of Illustrations ; Abbreviations ; Introduction: The Discovery ; Part I: The Approach to the Vishnu-house ; 1. The Significance of the Temple ; 2. Six Concepts ; 3. The Poem ; 4. The Emperor's Career Portrayed on the Prakara Wall ; Part II The Secret Dimension of the Vishnu-house ; 5. The Temple Mandala and the Bottom-Floor Sanctum ; 6. The Middle-Floor Sanctum: The Sculpted Program of the Northern Path ; 7. Northern Panels of the Northern Path: Transforming Power ; 8. Northern Panels of the Northern Path: Fortifying Omniscience ; 9. The Middle-Floor Sanctum: The Sculpted Program of the Southern Path ; 10. The Southern Panels of the Southern Path: "The Path of the Southern Doctrine" ; Part III The Public Dimension of the Vishnu-house ; 11. The Vimana Panels on the Western Side ; 12. The Panels on the Ardhamandapa or Porch ; 13. The Vimana Panels on the Northern Side ; 14. The Vimana Panels on the Eastern Side ; Appendix 1. Who Are the Bhagavatas? ; Appendix 2. Vasudeva's Path in the Satvata-samhita ; Appendix 3. Prithu, the People's Indra ; Appendix 4. Mantras in the Jayakhya-samhita ; Appendix 5. Periya Tirumoli 2.9 ; Notes ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index

    15 in stock

    £49.40

  • A Tale of Two Stupas Diverging Paths in the

    Oxford University Press Inc A Tale of Two Stupas Diverging Paths in the

    Book SynopsisIn A Tale of Two Stupas, Albert Welter tells the story of Hangzhou Buddhism through the conceptions, erections, and resurrections of Yongming Stupa, dedicated to the memory of one of Hangzhou's leading Buddhist figures, and Leifeng Pagoda, built to house stupa relics of the historical Buddha.Trade ReviewAn eye-opening investigation of the multiple layers embedded in the construction and reconstruction of two of the most renowned pieces of religious architecture in East Asia. The narrative is engaging and revealing, bringing to light and relief a plethora of long-obscured elements of critical significance to medieval Chinese sociopolitical and religious history. Yet another tour de force by a dynamic historian of East Asian Buddhism and a must-read for all scholars from different fields of Asian History. * Jinhua Chen, Professor of East Asian History, University of British Columbia *A Tale of Two Stūpas highlights the politics of suppression and revival of Buddhism in the Hangzhou region in which secular power mingles with sacred space. The author's admirable research guides the reader through the fascinating interactions of religion, national identity, modernity, and economic intervention as well as the rich history of two stupas in Hangzhou, opening up a new horizon in understanding Chinese Buddhism through regional identity. * Jin Y. Park, Professor and Department Chair of Philosophy and Religion, American University *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Chapter One: Introduction: Buddhist Relic Veneration, Buddhist Sites and Translocations, and the Transformation of the Hangzhou/Jiangnan region into an Indian Buddhist Homeland Chapter Two: Hangzhou Buddhism in Historical Perspective Chapter Three: The Origins and Development of the Yongming Stupa Chapter Four: The Origins and Development of Leifeng Pagoda Chapter Five: A Tale of Two St=upas: The Parameters of Buddhist Revival in China Appendix 1: Translations Associated with the "resurrection" of Yanshou and establishment of the Yongming Stupa Appendix 2: Translations of The Precious Chest Seal Dharani Satra and selections from Jingci Monastery Gazetteer relating to Leifeng Pagoda Bibliography Index

    £84.88

  • Religious Architecture in Latium and Etruria c. 900500 BC

    Oxford University Press Religious Architecture in Latium and Etruria c. 900500 BC

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisReligious Architecture in Latium and Etruria, c. 900-500 BC presents the first comprehensive treatment of cult buildings in western central Italy from the Iron Age to the Archaic Period. By analysing the archaeological evidence for the form of early religious buildings and their role in ancient communities, it reconstructs a detailed history of early Latial and Etruscan religious architecture that brings together the buildings and the people who used them.The first part of the study examines the processes by which religious buildings changed from huts and shrines to monumental temples, and explores apparent differences between these processes in Latium and Etruria. The second part analyses the broader architectural, religious, and topographical contexts of the first Etrusco-Italic temples alongside possible rationales for their introduction. The result is a new and extensive account of when, where, and why monumental cult buildings became features of early central Italic society.Trade ReviewWell prepared (including a chronology), well written (explanatory, clear and jargon-light), an incisive re-examination of the hefty secondary literature, an engagement with theory and debates on urbanisation cultural contact/exchange, but always focused on the evidence (and on the people who used them as well as the buildings themselves), and well presented: two maps, 42 figures and 95 illustrations as plates, all clear. * Gocha R. Tsetskhladze, Ancient West and East (AWE) *A highly valuable reassessment and interpretation of the archaeological corpus which has wide-ranging implications for our understanding of early Italic history. * Sinclair Bell (Northern Illinois University), The Journal of Roman Studies Vol.107 *a welcome and important work in the field of pre-Roman archaeology ... It is an internationally important achievement with a huge impact on the study of ancient architecture. Her book offers many new insights and urges the reader to reconsider established views. It is a rich, well-argued, and impeccably researched study, which will surely have a major impact on its field. * Patricia S. Lulof, University of Amsterdam *The special emphasis placed on the development of monumental religious architecture as a means of encouraging cross-cultural contact will also appeal to specialists interested in Mediterranean connectivity and urbanization. The value of the book lies primarily in the synthesis of an impressive amount of archaeological material in English, with an emphasis on the data recovered from the past fifty years or so of systematic excavation and study. The book's secondary value lies in the author's use of the archaeological evidence to challenge existing hypotheses concerning the identification of religious buildings and to propose new ways of understanding the role of monumentalization in the reconstruction of ancient societies. * J. Marilyn Evans, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations Abbreviations Chronology 1: Constructing Histories Part 1: From Huts to Temples 2: The First Religious Buildings: 'Sacred Huts' 3: The Architecture of Early Shrines and Temples 4: The Decoration of Early Shrines and Temples Part 2: Religious Monumentality in Context 5: Ritual Activation: Altars, Cult Statues, and Temples 6: Ritual Topographies: Landscapes, Cityscapes, and Temples 7: Accounting for Religious Monumentality 8: Conclusions Appendix: The Archaic Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus in Rome Catalogue Bibliography Index

    1 in stock

    £40.99

  • A History of the Church through its Buildings

    Oxford University Press A History of the Church through its Buildings

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe History of the Church through its Buildings takes the reader to meet people who lived through momentous religious changes in the very spaces where the story of the Church took shape. Buildings are about people, the people who conceived, designed, financed, and used them. Their stories become embedded in the very fabric itself, and as the fabric is changed through time in response to changing use, relationships, and beliefs, the architecture becomes the standing history of passing waves of humanity. This process takes on special significance in churches, where the arrangement of the space places members of the community in relationship with one another for the performance of the church''s rites and ceremonies. Moreover, architectural forms and building materials can be used to establish relationships with other buildings in other places and other times. Coordinated systems of signs, symbols, and images proclaim beliefs and doctrine, and in a wider sense carry extended narratives of Trade ReviewAllen Doig has written an important and informative book; read it. * Brett Donham, Anglican and Episcopal History *This book is a well-illustrated pleasure to read, as the reader tours diverse sites from the essential epicentres of Hagia Sophia, the Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow and St Peter's in Rome, to God's House at Ewelme in Oxfordshire and the Crimean Memorial Church in Istanbul via Cordoba and Aachen, finally concluding in Coventry. * Ayla Lepine, Modern Believing *Doig's architectural perspective offers fresh insights into centuries of Christian history. * W.L.Pitts, CHOICE Connect, Vol. 59 No. 8 *This is an extraordinarily learned book, both architecturally and theologically. It is worth living with the eccentricities for the riches embedded in such an attractive, readable and scholarly text. * Stephen Platten, The Living Church *It is a well-written work, replete with insightful information, and should be required reading in a course on ecclesiology. * Peter C. Phan, Catholic Books Review *Doig's book underscores the patently important role that church buildings played and continue to play in Christian, non-Christian, and post-Christian societies. Readers will appreciate the accessible treatment of the monuments; their contextualization through the use of primary sources; and the author's apt and intelligent commentary. In the middle of a pandemic, with severe travel restrictions still in place, Doig's lively descriptions and unbridled enthusiasm for these buildings allowed us to travel, and he reminds us that what is built for worship and wonder is worth its own story. * Vasileios Mari, Marginalia Review of Books *The book serves as an excellent introduction to particular buildings, especially those that are not normally taught in the context of a university in the United States.... it is an episodic account of the wonderful, weird, and glorious aspects of ecclesiastical architecture and its patrons. * Vasileios Marinis, The Marginalia Review of Books *[An] ambitious study... [a] well-illustrated tour of the Christian world's greatest landmarks of the base, earthly instincts that are intertwined in such heavenly buildings. * Peter Stanford, The Sunday Telegraph *The buildings in this book have epic stories to tell, and Doig has a tremendous knack for telling them. * Alison Shell, Times Literary Supplement *Doig's volume engages with a broad geographic range of key buildings and provides an accessible history of Christianity, engagingly told through its monuments and architecture. * Claire Nesbitt, Journal of Antiquity *This is a fascinating approach linking history with architecture and therefore the spaces of ritual and ceremony implying certain types of relationship. * David Lorimer, Paradigim Explorer *Each chapter examines a church in an original way, a thousand miles from usual guidebook historical rat-runs. * Christopher Howse, Spectator *What a treat to be taken on a tour of sacred sites in Rome and Istanbul, Moscow and Jerusalem, Aachen, Paris, Córdoba - and Ewelme and Coventry - by the Revd Dr Allan Doig! An architect, priest, and scholar, he is an expert guide: one who has walked these streets many times before; one who has read widely and long reflected on how faith and architecture intersect... no reader could resist the combination of scholarship and enthusiasm which runs throughout the volume, and it provokes the hope that others might follow its lead. * William Whyte, Church Times *This is a fascinating approach linking history with architecture and therefore the spaces of ritual and ceremony implying certain types of relationship... 12 buildings are chosen and illustrated... all of which provide a multifaceted and a vivid picture - 'a standing history of passing waves of humanity.' * Paradigm Explorer *an excellent introduction to particular buildings it is an episodic account of the wonderful, weird, and glorious aspects of ecclesiastical architecture and its patrons In Doigs experienced hands, the chosen sites make for scintillating and colorful stories the greatest strength of the book is that the general public will find it a rewarding readingdare I say a page-turner? In this one book, any interested reader can learn about Constantine and Putin, about Aachen and Istanbul, about medieval English chantries and mosques turned to cathedrals in Spain. * Vasileios Marinis, Marginalia *The most distinctive feature of this book is that it focuses not only on the church buildings themselves but also on the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of the people behind the buildings, paying attention to the historical process of the interaction between people and the building, as well as the history shaped by it. This book is suitable for scholars and a general readership interested in church history and the history of religious art. * Wei Xiong, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1: 'The World's Most Miraculous Place': the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 2: Christianity at the Heart of the Roman Empire: Old St Peter's Basilica on the Vatican Hill 3: New Rome and the Horizons of Empire: Hagia Sophia in Istanbul 4: 'The Third Rome': the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin 5: Renovatio Romani Imperii: Charlemagne's Church of the Holy Mother of God at Aachen 6: 'Transported from this inferior to that higher world': The Abbey of St-Denis 7: 'To the increce of oure merites': God's House at Ewelme, Oxfordshire 8: The Western Caliphate and the Christian Monarchs: the Cathedral, Cordoba 9: Ultimate Authority Under Attack: the Building of Renaissance St Peter's 10: The Iberian Empires and the Evangelisation of the World: the Church of Sant'Ignazio, Rome 11: English Parish Churches Exported: the Crimean Memorial Church, Istanbul 12: 'A Phoenix too Soon': Coventry Cathedral Index

    1 in stock

    £36.57

  • The Hindu Temple

    The University of Chicago Press The Hindu Temple

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £25.65

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