Religious and ceremonial arts Books

Book SynopsisBestselling historian William Dalrymple reinstates India as the great superpower of Ancient Asia.

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Book SynopsisA new and definitive account of one of the most famous and mysterious manuscripts in the world.The Book of Kells is a mystery. It is distinct from all copies of the gospels from the early Middle Ages, not only in the quality and amount of its decoration but also in the peculiarities of the ordering of its contents, the oddness of its apparatus, the appearance of the script, the interplay of text and ornament, and the erratic forms of its Latin. Scholars cannot agree on the number of scribes and artists involved; or establish the purpose of the Book; or decide whether its oddities are the result of incompetence or carelessness, and how those oddities relate to the minutely careful and deeply meaningful art.The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world and Victoria Whitworth''s masterly treatment offers something new.

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Book SynopsisA classic NKJV Bible that looks and feels like the majestic heritage it comes from, with historically rich design details including elegant drop caps, line-matched text, and traditional covers.

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Book SynopsisTeaching writing is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a tremendous gift to teachers and students. Students often approach writing courses with trepidation because they think of writing as a mystical and opaque process. Teachers often approach these same courses with dread because of the enormous workload and the often-unpolished skills of new writers. This approachable composition textbook for beginning writers contends that writing can be a better experience for everyone when taught as an empathetic and respectful conversation. In a time in which discourse is not always civil and language is not always tended carefully, a conversation-based writing approach emphasizes intention and care. Written by a teacher with more than fifteen years of experience in the college writing classroom, Composition as Conversation explores what happens when the art of conversation meets the art of writing. Heather Hoover shows how seven virtues--including curiosity, attentiveness, relatability, open-mindedness, and generosity--inform the writing process and can help students become more effective writers. She invites writers of all skill levels to make meaningful contributions with their writing. This short, accessible, and instructive book offers a reflective method for college-level writing and will also work well in classical school, high school, and homeschool contexts. It demystifies the writing process and helps students understand why their writing matters. It will energize teachers of writing as they encourage their students to become careful readers and observers, intentional listeners, and empathetic arguers. The book also provides helpful sample assignments.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Composition as Conversation1. Be Curious2. Be Attentive3. Be Relatable4. Be on Topic5. Be Engaging6. Be Open-Minded7. Be GenerousConclusion: Stay in ConversationAppendix 1: Sample Call for PapersAppendix 2: Research Proposal TemplateAppendix 3: Annotated Bibliography GuideAppendix 4: Peer Review Interview and Peer Review GuideAppendix 5: Research Essay Guided RevisionAppendix 6: Revision Workshop TemplateAppendix 7: Conversation Extension PlanAppendix 8: Sample Conference PanelAppendix 9: Conference Response SheetAppendix 10: Ongoing Research AssignmentIndex

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Book SynopsisAs seen in Elle, The Associated Press, and Real Simple A visual celebration of Christmas, from religious beginnings to festive cultural touchstones – a book to treasure This book is a unique and groundbreaking visual celebration of Christmas, a joyous religious and cultural occasion observed by billions of people around the world. The origins of Christmas are in the Christian observance of the birth of Christ on 25 December and, since the early 20th century, it has become a secular holiday with a myriad decorations, rituals, and themes. Key themes covered include advent and the nativity; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; classic Christmas films; and festive music. This extraordinary book showcases a broad spectrum of global festive traditions from many different cultures, such as fried chicken eaten for Christmas dinner, surfing Santas, and shoes filled with carrots. A collection of more than 200 rich and evocative images, paintings, books, prints, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and photography, thoughtfully paired to highlight similarities and contrasts between them, the works included feature a diverse range of both lesser-known and iconic artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Grandma Moses, Beatrix Potter, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and many more. These significant works cover festive topics such as Advent; the Christmas tree and holiday decorations; gift giving and carol singing; and classic Christmas films and music. Essays by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli and David Trigg explore traditional festive food and drink, Santa Claus throughout history, and the religious origins of Christmas. In The Christmas Book, the significant artistic and cultural influence of Christmas throughout history is explored through a wide range of beautiful and significant artworks and images from across the ages and six continents, creating the ultimate cultural companion to the festive season.Trade Review'It'll double as decor and a conversation starter for anyone who visits your home during the season.' – Buzzfeed‘Who knew a Christmas coffee table book would be such a festive decoration necessity?’ – ELLE‘Christmas, but make it a book. These stunning pages showcase global traditions, like surfing Santas, shoes filled with carrots, the Nativity, gift giving, and more.’ – Real Simple'A jolly look at Christmas via design and artifacts.' – Associated Press ‘Glorious … this oversize offering is meant to be browsed through and marveled at, whether it's Christmastime or not.’ – Booklist ‘The Christmas Book captures the nostalgia and iconography of Christmas in full-color pictorial splendor.' – Foreword Reviews 'Sure to spur a feeling of nostalgia in anyone who grew up celebrating the holiday.' – Duluth News Tribune‘A beautiful holiday gift.’ – Marie Leslie, The Leslie Lifestyle‘A treasure trove of the traditions, lore, rituals and spirituality of “the most wonderful time of the year.” – The Media Tourist‘Covers the holiday and all its myriad forms, from the advent and the nativity to decorations, rituals, and theme.’ – Uncrate'This quintessential holiday gift is not only a delight for Christmas enthusiasts but also a treasure for those fascinated by art, design, and pop culture.' – Quest Magazine

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Book SynopsisIlluminated manuscripts are among the most beautiful, precious and mysterious works of Western art. Before the printing press was invented, books were produced by hand and their illustration using brightly coloured pigments and gold embellishments was a labour of love and an act of piety in itself. The results are stunning. The works emanating from the scriptoria of monasteries were mainly religious texts, including illuminated bibles, psalters, and works for private devotion known as books of hours. Illuminated Manuscripts describes the origin and history of illumination in the Middle Ages, covering the artists and their techniques, and the patrons who commissioned them. It explains the subject matter found in medieval works, such as saints and Bible stories and the use of ornamental flourishes, and is illustrated with many fine examples of the genre including the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells.Table of ContentsThe Glorification of God Book Production Books and Their Illuminations The Printing Press and the Reformation Places to Visit Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive history of all 266 popes from Peter to Francis, with beautiful fine-art images.

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Book SynopsisThere has never been a display like it. This is the catalogue to an ambitious exhibition at the Goldsmiths’ Hall, London, which will comprise 250 gold and silver objects and sets of objects spanning the history of the Church from the earliest possible times to the present day. A foreword by the Rt Revd Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and twelve essays by distinguished authorities will illustrate aspects of evolving liturgy and Church history such as the medieval Mass, Church patronage in the Middle Ages, and the English Reformation. Historical themes from post-Reformation centuries will include Catholic recusancy, the 17th- and 18th-century altar service and the medieval revivals that mirrored the Victorian Tractarian movement. Important commissions from the 1980s and 1990s for Lichfield Cathedral and York Minster will also be discussed. Essays will be accompanied by new photography of key objects, many of them the‘secret’ treasure of individual parish churches. The guiding principle of the exhibition is that all loans be in the possession of the Church or other religious foundations. Objects have been selected from cathedrals, Oxford colleges and‘royal peculiars’ such as St George’s Chapel at Windsor. The majority are from parish churches great and small up and down the country.

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Book SynopsisRoom for Good Things to Run Wild is the antidote to widespread Christian malaise. If you feel like life is happening to you, that your faith has been reduced to trite platitudes, and that no matter how many new things you try, you still end up with a dissatisfying Christian life, this book offers relief from the mediocrity of Christian living through the sacred and satisfying journey of becoming an every day saint.After spending too many days staring at the hamster cage of his uninspired life through the bottom of a glass of Scotch, Josh Nadeau knew there were only 2 ways left to go: further down or finally up. Disillusioned by his faith and disenchanted by the world around him, Josh chose up out of a desperation to discover the Jesus who had formed the saints of old. Steeped in literature and doctrine, art and raw daily life and accompanied by original illustrations and living liturgy this book will bring you on the journey back to an em

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Book SynopsisThis elegant Bible edition honors the beauty and richness of the New King James Version in a convenient portable size with essential study tools and traditional red-letter text for the Words of Christ.The New King James Version in the Sovereign Collection reflects the legacy and majesty of the King James Version Bible produced more than 400 years ago, but in language updated for today. This beautiful Bible, which contains design flourishes that pay tribute to the Bible produced in 1611, comes in a convenient portable size with essential study tools and traditional red-letter text for the Words of Christ.The Sovereign Collection continues Thomas Nelson''s long history and stewardship publishing Bibles, featuring elegant letter illustrations leading into each chapter combined with clear and readable Comfort Print®, connects you to the legacy of faith, and inspires your time in the Word to be enjoyable and fruitful.Features i

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Book SynopsisPioneering work by the great modernist painter, considered by many to be the father of abstract art and a leader in the movement to free art from traditional bonds. 12 illustrations.

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Book SynopsisA classic NKJV Bible that looks and feels like the majestic heritage it comes from, with historically rich design details including elegant drop caps, line-matched text, and traditional covers.

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia For more than 2,000 years, sublime works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. How to Read Buddhist Art introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining sixty seminal works. Beginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries. Reliquaries, sculptures, and paintings produced in China, the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, and South and Southeast Asia provide insight into the rich iconography of Buddhism, the technical virtuosity of their makers, and the social and political climate in which they were created. Beautiful photographs of the artworks, maps, and a glossary of the major Buddhist deities offer an engaging and informative setting in which readers—regardless of their familiarity with Buddhism—can better understand the art related to the religion’s practices and representations.Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

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Book SynopsisFrom divine goddesses to intricate geometric patterns, this colour-by-numbers collection includes over 60 images based on beautiful stained glass designs. Stained glass by its very nature lends itself ideally to forming the basis of these beautiful colour-by-number images. Influenced by some of the greatest works of art that stretch back to Medieval times and come forward to the art nouveau and contemporary designs of the 20th and 21st centuries, these intricate illustrations are full of variety. Includes stained-glass designs from:• Canterbury Cathedral, UK• Reims Cathedral, France• Jarrow Hall, Jarrow• Erfurt Cathedral, GermanySimply match the number to the color on the flip-out colour key and bring these images to life with a kaleidoscope of colour. ABOUT THE SERIES: The bestselling Arcturus Colour by Numbers Collection features peaceful and enchanting designs from an array of artists

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Book SynopsisThe Old and New Testaments are full of compelling female characters: good wives and bad, courageous heroines, and deceptive - sometimes deadly - femmes fatales. Dangerous Women presents works from the rich holdings of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art that explore different artists' responses to the women of the Bible. Paintings by Pietro da Cortona, Francesco Cairo, and Fede Galizia and others stand as a reminder of how dangerous biblical women have continued to loom large in the modern imagination. These stories in this volume show how narratives of power are constructed, interpreted, and continue to evolve over the course of time. While some women saved their people, were paragons of virtue, or repented, others were purveyors of sin, harlots, and seductresses. Even if it was through their misbehaviour, all of these women - from Mary Magdalene, to Judith and Esther, to Salome and Potiphar's Wife - shaped biblical history.Table of ContentsContents: Acknowledgements; Why Are These Women Dangerous?; The Danger of Biblical Women; Plates

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Book SynopsisRembrandt Is in the Wind by Russ Ramsey is part art history, part biblical study, part philosophy, and part analysis of the human experience; but it's all story. An invitation to discover some of the world’s most celebrated artists and works, it presents the beauty of the gospel in a way that speaks to our most common struggles and longings.Trade Review'Art and the act of creating is essential. We must remember that without it, we would not be here. To notice beauty is to be fully alive and without the act of intimately engaging life, we are numb to ourselves and to the world around us. Ramsey points us towards God through the raw, sensual power of the art, disrupting our unconscious lives that often want to grasp for whatever makes us un-feel.' * Wayne Brezinka, award-winning artist and illustrator *'Encountering paintings drawings and sculpture as a little boy set me up for my life arc. Encountering Christ set me up for a lifelong love affair with my creator. Russ has gone to great lengths to examine art and faith in a way that helps us define our path forward. Art making is sometimes a lonely experience relying on one's own imagination and talent. This book illustrates the tight wire one must balance on to find the peace and beauty in expression. It's often difficult to maintain balance with all life offers is pulling on us. Rembrandt in the wind helps us find a way forward by the examples and stories of art makers who have gone before us.' * Jimmy Abegg, visual artist and musician with Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band, Charlie Peacock, and Steve Taylor and the Perfect Foil *'Here's what I love about Russ Ramsey's latest project--it understands down deep that Truth is exclusive to no party or sect; that Goodness arrives in the form of the lonely, the ill, and the outcast; and that Beauty, amid the church's moral twilight, might be the last apologetic that holds.' * Leif Enger, Bestselling Author of Virgil Wander and Peace Like A River *'In days fractured by those who aim to seize power, darkened by those who play dirty politics, and clouded by those who use platforms to polarize, perhaps the artists can lead us home. The artists featured in these pages, artists who devoted their life and work to what is good, true, and beautiful, remind us that we can--and should--do the same.' * Karen Swallow Prior, Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books *'It is easy to believe that enjoying and understanding 'Art' is only for those who have a PhD in Art History. Russ Ramsey reminds us how simple and holy it is to be stirred by the mystery of images.' * John Hendrix, author/illustrator of The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler *'Ramsey is a deep lover of art and a student of art history. In this book he takes the reader on an amazing guided tour through an art museum that doesn't exist. In this carefully curated collection of art from around the world, he offers you an experience that only someone who really loves art can. This book inspires the reader to engage art in an eye-opening way and understand how these famous works of art bring glory to God.' * Ned Bustard, is the illustrator of the Every Moment Holy series, Creative Director of Square Halo Books, and the artist and author of History of Art: Creation through Contemporary *'Ramsey leads us well into one of the best possible uses of our time--engaging with art and beauty.' * Mark Maggiori is an award-winning painter of the American West *'Russ Ramsey doesn't just see some of the wonders seen and painted by great artists of the past, but even more wonderfully, he helps us see them too. Yet it is full of surprises. What he offers is never a matter of beauty for its own sake, although we are drawn into a glorious journey of beauty down the ages; nor is it one of artistic skills and accomplishments, although every one of the artists he focuses on could easily claim to have mastered their art; nor even can this book be distilled into a mere, fascinating overview of five centuries of human creativity (even though the story told provides a superb entry-point to the novice keen to learn more). The greatest joy of this book, however, is that the accumulative effect of these nine artists has helped me glimpse something of the world and of humanity as God our Creator sees us. And what a gift that is!' * Mark Meynell, Director (Europe & Caribbean), Langham Partnership, writer and cultural critic: A Wilderness of Mirrors and When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend *'Russ Ramsey has gone deep into the histories of nine artists and their masterworks, revealing how each struggled--in both their giftedness and fallenness--to create beauty. I am reminded anew of how beauty leads us to God, 'the Author of beauty.' I cannot wait to share this book!' * Debbie Taylor, visual artist *'Russ Ramsey was kind enough to give me an early chapter of this book a few years ago when I was preparing to go on a silent retreat and asked him for a work of art I might spend some time meditating on during my weekend away. Thanks to Russ's recommendation, I spent hours contemplating Rembrandt's painting, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. I was shaken by the depiction of this scene and the disciples' question to Jesus, 'Do you not care that we are perishing?' Russ's gentle shepherding of my understanding regarding the painting and the Biblical story behind it was a balm in my life just when I needed it. I know that this book will be the same for you.' * Shawn Smucker, author of The Day the Angels Fell and The Weight of Memory *'Sometimes, when standing at a museum, I think to myself 'I wish somebody who knows something would explain this to me.' And I look around and see, on one side of me, someone expertly pointing out every intricacy in the painting and, on the other, someone bored and looking at a phone in hand. Somehow this book is able to captivate people in all those categories. In this book, Russ Ramsey walks us through a museum of artists and art works, showing how each of them illuminates something about God, humanity, and the meaning of life. And this book does so in a way that won't bore the expert or intimidate the novice. Those who love art will find here new paths to the gospel. And those who love the gospel will find that they can love art. That's a lot to ask from a book, and this one delivers.' * Russell Moore, Director of Christianity Today’s Public Faith Project *

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Book SynopsisA deep and encompassing dive into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan BuddhismThe Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols is a portal into the rich, multifaceted, and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. The succinct descriptions that accompany Robert Beer’s detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols. Beer unravels the multiple layers of symbolism and meaning contained within the iconography, affording the reader a panoramic vision into the deeper dimensions of this sacred art.Drawn largely from Beer’s monumental work The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, the meticulous brush drawings in this book depict all of the major Buddhist symbols and motifs, including the various groups of auspicious symbols; cosmological symbols; natural and mythical animals, such as the dragon, garuda, and makara; the entire assembly of ritual tantric implements and weapons; magical and wrathful symbols; handheld emblems, attributes, and plants; esoteric Vajrayana offerings; and mudras, or ritual hand gestures.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, a panoramic exploration of peoples, objects and beliefs from the celebrated author of A History of the World in 100 Objects and Germany''Riveting, extraordinary ... tells the sweeping story of religious belief in all its inventive variety. The emphasis is not on our differences, but on shared spiritual yearnings'' Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times, Books of the YearOne of the central facts of human existence is that every society shares a set of beliefs and assumptions - a faith, an ideology, a religion - that goes far beyond the life of the individual. These beliefs are an essential part of a shared identity. They have a unique power to define - and to divide - us, and are a driving force in the politics of much of the world today. Throughout history they have most often been, in the widest sense, religious.Yet this book is not a history of religion, nor an argument inTrade ReviewThe David Attenborough of things that don't move ... Think of it as his Blue Planet -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *He shows how human beings have always used religion and objects as a way to understand the world around us, from finding some accommodation with light, water and the seasons, to attempting to find some approach towards death. ... Anyone wishing to deepen, if not change their life, will certainly benefit from this remarkable book -- Douglas Murray * Evening Standard *A mind-expanding book -- John Carey * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThis catalogue of the Wyvern sculpture collection, which is not open to the public, comprises outstanding European sculptures of the medieval period, as well as some Late Antique and Byzantine pieces and related works of the post-medieval era. Objects are made from wood, stone (including alabaster and marble) and terracotta. Also included are medieval works of art in metal, mostly consisting of crucifix figures (corpora), and other functional metalware such as aquamanilia (water vessels for the washing of hands) and candlesticks. This sumptuous publication will interest all those concerned with the material culture of the Middle Ages.Trade Review'There could be few more qualified guides to an important private collection of medieval art than Paul Williamson' - Apollo'The combination of the unfaltering taste of the collector, who has, as he acknowledges in his foreword, been advised by some of the best medieval curators of our time, and Williamson’s erudition and deep understanding of sculpture make this volume a landmark. … this volume is also a useful primary source in the history of taste. After reading it, one can only impatiently await the publication of the next' - Burlington magazine'Of the right calibre and breadth to guide us confidently through the salient moments of the history of European medieval sculpting and casting' - The Art NewspaperTable of ContentsForeword • Introduction • I. Late Antique and Byzantine (cat. 1–8) • II. Romanesque and Early Gothic 1050-1200 (cat. 9–44) • III. Europe in the 13th Century (cat. 45–68) • IV. Europe in the 14th Century (cat. 69–92) • V. Europe in the First Half of the 15th Century (cat. 93–126) • VI. Europe in the Second Half of the 15th Century (cat. 127–164) • VII. Europe in the First Half of the 16th Century (cat. 165–179) • VIII. Post-Medieval (cat. 180–187)

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Book SynopsisSHO 書: to write, writing, calligraphy. DO 道: the path, the way or the Tao, the path of life Ancient Japanese calligraphy, known as Shodo, is more than just a decorative art; it is a revolutionary approach to mindfulness. This beautiful introduction to Shodo shows how the movement of a brush channels energy through the body and mind, uniting both in harmony. In this book Rie Takeda, world-renowned Shodo artist and expert shares: the history, philosophy and spirituality of Shodo the craft of calligraphy from the basic brushstrokes up to complete kanji practical guidance on which inks, pens and brushes to use, how to prepare your space, how to sit and breathe spiritual insight into Shodo, including the concept of Mushin (an undisturbed mind), Qi energy, and how to discover and channel your unique inner quality. You will discover that what results on the paper during Shodo is a true depiction of the present moment, a movement toward a more peaceful mindfulness.

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Book SynopsisThis elegant Bible edition honors the beauty and richness of the New King James Version in a convenient portable size with essential study tools and traditional red-letter text for the Words of Christ.The New King James Version in the Sovereign Collection reflects the legacy and majesty of the King James Version Bible produced more than 400 years ago, but in language updated for today. This beautiful Bible, which contains design flourishes that pay tribute to the Bible produced in 1611, comes in a convenient portable size with essential study tools and traditional red-letter text for the Words of Christ.The Sovereign Collection continues Thomas Nelson''s long history and stewardship publishing Bibles, featuring elegant letter illustrations leading into each chapter combined with clear and readable Comfort Print®, connects you to the legacy of faith, and inspires your time in the Word to be enjoyable and fruitful.Features i

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Book SynopsisBy exploring surprising medieval representations of Jesus in art and literature, Jesus through Medieval Eyes, by Grace Hamman, expands readers’ Christian imaginations. Meeting Jesus as a Knight, a Lover, a Judge, even a Mother allows us to see Christ’s face with eyes paradoxically both fresh and ancient, and reorient ourselves towards the Savior.Trade Review'In Jesus Through Medieval Eyes Grace Hamman combines the scholarly and the practical in a way that is, alas, all too uncommon. She deploys her broad and deep knowledge of the Middle Ages in the service of helping ordinary Christians become more knowledgeable and more faithful lovers of Christ. Beautifully and engagingly written, this book helps us understand ourselves better by introducing us to our fellow Christians who lived in a world that is at once strikingly strange and strangely familiar.' * Fritz Bauerschmidt, professor of theology, Loyola University Maryland; deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore *'In Jesus through Medieval Eyes, Grace Hamman offers an absorbing and accessible work of Christian retrieval, guiding readers back to the delightfully distinct treasures of medieval Christianity. With erudition and devotional care, Hamman guides us toward the radiant goodness of Christ--a goodness best beheld when we gaze upon him from a vantage point beyond our own. Whether 'medieval' as a modifier to 'Christianity' makes you sing with joy, hum with curiosity, or shriek with fear, humble readers will find this book an intellectual and spiritual feast.' * Claude Atcho, pastor of Church of the Resurrection, author of Reading Black Books *'Jesus Through Medieval Eyes offers vivid, earthy, and sometimes jarring insights into Jesus as seen through the lives and minds of those who walked this faith journey ahead of us. The Jesus they understood is, in some ways, as startling to us as our portrayals of him today would be to them. But we have much to learn from ages past, and Grace Hamman is the perfect one to guide us on this tour. Her writing is as sharp, witty, and sparkling as the medieval minds she studies and introduces us to. This book is rich and utterly delightful.' * Karen Swallow Prior, PhD, author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images & Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis *'Under Grace Hamman's tutelage, readers enter a 'school of love.' Jesus through Medieval Eyes challenges our assumptions about Jesus, expanding our vision of him with medieval images. After reading this book, we know Jesus as judge, lover, mother, and more. Contrary to books that offer contemporary solutions to contemporary problems, Jesus through Medieval Eyes illuminates an eternal and timeless Savior.' * Jessica Hooten Wilson, Fletcher Jones Endowed Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University, author of Reading for the Love of God *'With a scholar's eye and a pastor's hand, Grace Hamman gently accompanies us on a journey of challenging our under-examined beliefs and biases until we find ourselves beholding Christ in new, exciting ways. This book is a breath of fresh air.' * Shannon K. Evans, author of Rewilding Motherhood and Feminist Prayers for My Daughter *

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Book Synopsis A captivating artistic and philosophic exploration of humankind’s complex moral codes A companion piece to Pandemonium: A Visual History of Demonology and Elysium: A Visual History of Angelology, Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will complete this moral trilogy and finally consider God’s most enigmatic of creations: None of the conundrums of metaphysics are as baroque as the motivations of the human soul. Unlike the devils condemned to perdition and the angels compelled to paradise, humans are divine creatures that house within them warring impulses.Seven Sins and Seven Virtues will examine the literary, philosophical, theological, and most of all artistic expressions of the seven deadly sins and their respective seven cardinal virtues, drawing upon millennia of history to gather a compendium of humanity at its best and its worst. As a volume, the book will explore the Manichean nature of the human animal in all of

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Book SynopsisThis book is a compendium of symbols with sacred meanings, perfect for anyone looking to find a meaningful tattoo design, professional tattoo artists or anyone interested in folklore and religion. It gathers some of the most popular and lesser known signs from around the world in a comprehensive and accessible guide. Looking at each symbol's history and origins, it unveils the cultural and spiritual significance, alongside any folklore to give each image context, and showcases different tattoo styles for those seeking inspiration or just a fresh approach to a traditional design. The directory includes 75-100 lead symbols and themes, reflecting the way these develop and emerge across different folklore and religions. Each of these has an accessible list of meanings as well as a list of key uses and context to where the sacred origins lie.

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Book SynopsisSacred Nature: Animism and Materiality in Ancient Religions is the second volume of the series Material Religion in Antiquity (MaReA). The book collects the proceedings of the international online workshop carrying the same title organized by CAMNES, SoRS on 20–21 May 2021. Sacred Nature brings together the perspectives of scholars from different disciplines (archaeology, anthropology, iconography, philology, history of religions) about the notions of nature, sacredness, animism and materiality in ancient religions of the Old and the New World. The contributions highlight various ways of understandings the relationships that occurred between human beings, animals, plants, rivers, deities and the land in the religious life of ancient societies. In particular, each chapter explores entangled aspects of the perception of nature and its other-than-human inhabitants, and contributes to readdress some notions about nature, personhood/agency, divinity/sacrality, and materiality/spirituality in ancient religions and cosmologies. In this line, the book seeks to promote a starkly inter-disciplinary and religious-anthropological approach to the definition of ‘sacred nature’, especially engaging with the analytical category of animism as a fruitful conceptual tool for the investigation of human-environmental relations in the ancient religious conceptions, representations and practices. Dialoguing with animism and drawing upon the question on how an ancient religion happened materially, the volume presents key case studies that explore how nature and its non-human inhabitants were understood, represented, engaged with and interwoven in the sacred and sensuous landscapes of ancients.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Sacred Nature: Animism and Materiality in ancient Religions Anna Perdibon and Nicola Laneri 1. Before Nature: perspectives from new animist world-making Graham Harvey 2. Watercraft as Assemblage in the Western Arctic Erica Hill 3. Between Realms of Being: Signs of Liminality in Ancient Altai Stone Monuments Esther Jacobson-Tepfer 4. In Mantic and Hostile Lands: Surveillance and Mimesis by Divination in the Late Old Babylonian Period Seth Richardson 5. Nymphs or trees? Some remarks on the “animistic” interpretation of Homeric hymn to Aphrodite, vv. 256-272. Doralice Fabiano 6. The dawn of the Potnia. Reception and reinterpretation of an archetypal model in protohistoric peninsular Italy Valentino Nizzo 7. Responsibilities, Obedience, and Righteousness: Other-Than-Human Creatures in the Hebrew Bible Mari Joerstad

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Book SynopsisSensuous, bold and topical this volume with its varied illustrations presents the entire spectrum of Jewish ideas about sexuality. In doing so it examines widely-held and contradictory stereotypes, according to which Jewish tradition either supports sexuality or restricts it through stringent regulations. The popular series and dating shows 'Unorthodox', 'Shtisel' and 'Jewish Matchmaking' cater to a surprising desire for a peek into the intimate life of Jews. Whether their protagonists are ultra-Orthodox, secular or somewhere in between: Pop culture simplifies a topic that has been the subject of profound discourse within the Jewish world ever since the commandment to be fruitful and multiply. Rabbis and religious scholars, sex therapists, scientists and artists grapple with traditional ideas and contemporary challenges, and explore Jewish positions on sexuality in all its diversity. Artists include Judy Chicago, Nicole Eisenman, R. B. Kitaj, Roee Rosen, Gil Yefman, et al.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisIn 1908, an idea arose during a conversation between Dr Felix Peipers and Rudolf Steiner. Steiner had been lecturing on the healing nature of the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and drew a parallel to the Christian Madonna, Mary. From that, Steiner and Peipers started to formulate a sequence of fifteen Madonna images, primarily by Raphael, which Dr Peipers used effectively in meditative therapy with his patients. All fifteen images are included in the book.This book explores the nature of the Madonna images, addressing topics ranging from the mystery of seeing, beauty, truth and goodness, and Sophia, the divine feminine wisdom, to Isis and Madonna, working with images and Rudolf Steiner's healing mission. There is a special section on Raphael's Sistine Madonna.This book is a perfect complement to Raphael's Madonnas (edited by Christopher Bamford), a beautiful collection of colour Madonna images.

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Book SynopsisAn exciting, wide-ranging exploration of the power and diversity of female figures of worship in world cultures and belief systems, from the ancient world to today. ---------- âWritten in plain and accessible language, without losing academic rigor... Crerar, who, like a contemporary Virgil, introduces us to sublime and terrifying entities, guiding us all the way through the complex and fascinating meanings of femininity and faith.â â MarÃa Pinal Villanueva, The Journal of Folklore Research Reviews âAn excellent catalogueâ â Waldemar Januszczak, The Sunday Times âA lucidly argued and richly illustrated catalogueâ â Marina Warner, The Guardian ---------- Divine women â in many guises â have featured in every world faith from deep history until the present day, inspiring people and cultures across the world. In a cross-cultural and global approach, this book discusses Eve alongside Inanna, Radha and Aphrodite in the context of sex and desire, while in the chapter on evil, witches Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Forces of nature 2. Passion and desire 3. Evil 4. Justice and defence 5. Compassion and salvation Conclusion Notes and bibliography Acknowledgements and credits Index

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Book SynopsisA superbly written and tightly argued appraisal of the political and religious ramifications of one of the fundamental topics in the history of art the artistic encounter with the transcendent.Trade Review'Utopian modernism has been Clark’s lifetime study, to which this book is an imaginative, heartfelt coda … gracefully skims a tightrope between attentive looking and political thinking' - Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times'A tour de force that happily marries art with literature … [Clark] is always lively and engaging … this is art criticism at its best' - Church Times'A more novel and compelling book about art's version of the afterlife, and how it is inflected by worldly politics and reality, can hardly be imagined' - Laura Cumming, Observer Books of the Year'The pleasure of this book lies in the quality of these observations – Clark’s relentlessly keen attention to the small details that ought not to mean a great deal but often send you reeling. He makes you want to squint close to the original, seeing it suddenly aslant' - frieze'Inspiring … it demands to be read from cover to cover, and happily the flow of [Clark’s] prose and the clarity of his argument mean that the experience is a singular delight' - Evening Standard, Art Books of the YearTable of ContentsPreface • Introduction • 1. Giotto and the Angel • 2. Bruegel in Paradise • 3. Poussin and the Unbeliever • 4. Veronese’s Higher Beings • Conclusion: Picasso and the Fall • Coda: For a Left with No Future

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Doss’s clear and cogent prose, accented by crisp illustrations of key works and supported by extensive research, make this distinctly focused and illuminating study an essential choice for art history collections." -- Carolyn Mulac * Booklist *"Spiritual Moderns bravely retells the story of modern art, fraught as it may be, with a more honest look at how religion shaped it. . . . Through a series of four case studies, along with an intro and conclusion, Doss exposes how earlier historians of modern art have downplayed religion as a key ingredient in some of modern art’s most heralded breakthroughs. . . . [Doss's] strength as a historian shines bright." * Hyperallergic *Named one of The Best Art Books of 2023 * Hyperallergic *"Doss reclaims American modernism’s religious element...Spiritual Moderns casts new light on the history of American art." -- William J. Schultz * Christian Century *“Doss successfully demonstrates that the story of American modernism is not as secular as it is often presumed to be, and shows without telling that art criticism and history that disregard religion are necessarily shallower than a discourse open to religious thinking and concerns.” * The Brooklyn Rail *"Spiritual Moderns investigates how four 20th-century American modernist artists integrated their non-mainstream religious beliefs and commitments into their work. . . . Doss provides artist bios and helpful descriptions of the main characteristics and practices of their religious traditions. . . . The book presents convincing cultural history that brings religious influences forward. . . Recommended." * Choice *"Erika Doss presents a convincing challenge to the prevailing omission of religion in the story of twentieth-century modernist art in the United States. . . . an exemplary model." * Panorama *“Through detailed accounts of the life and work of four twentieth-century American artists, Doss works to unseat the notion that modern art and religion, or spirituality more generally, are incompatible and separate. She compellingly demonstrates how the significance of religion and spirituality in artistic practice has been suppressed and disavowed, or, alternatively, has contributed to an artist’s lesser status within the art-historical literature. In each thoroughly researched and lucidly written chapter, she illuminates the importance of religion and spirituality for these artists and in so doing deepens our understanding of their work.” -- Rachael Z. DeLue, Christopher Binyon Sarofim ’86 Professor in American Art, Princeton University“Spiritual Moderns is an apt extension of Doss’s rigorous art-historical scholarship, and there is a great need for this study. As Doss persuasively argues, it is time that the field of modern American art history recognized the singular importance of religion and spirituality within the production and reception of twentieth-century American art. The canonical figures Doss considers engaged deeply with their respective religious traditions while challenging conventional orthodoxies and crafting unique images of transcendence. Doss offers a compelling revisionist account of modern American art history and the cultural work that religion and spirituality performed, historically and aesthetically.” -- Marcia Brennan, Carolyn and Fred McManis Professor of Humanities, Rice UniversityTable of ContentsList of Figures Chapter 1. Spiritual Moderns: Twentieth-Century American Artists and Religion Chapter 2. Joseph Cornell and Christian Science: “White Magic” Modernism and the Metaphysics of Ephemera Chapter 3. Mark Tobey and Bahá’í: “White Writing” and Spiritual Calligraphy Chapter 4. Agnes Pelton and Occulture: Spiritual Seeking and Visionary Modernism Chapter 5. Andy Warhol and Catholicism: Pop Art’s “Spiritual Side” Chapter 6. Spiritual Moderns: Culture War Controversies and Enduring Themes Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisA revelatory study exploring wood's many material, ecological, and symbolic meanings in the religious art of medieval GermanyTrade Review“In late medieval Germany, religious art was full of trees, vines, and other plants, symbolizing the strong ties between agrarian and spiritual life. Art historian Gregory C. Bryda surveys these botanically influenced masterpieces in his new book The Trees of the Cross, including works by some of the era’s great masters.”—Peter Saenger, Wall Street Journal“A rewarding study that is full of new insights.”—Jeremy Warren, Art Newspaper“Going deeper into history and daily life than scholarship on materiality and ecology ordinarily ventures, Bryda’s argument persuasively demonstrates that late medieval German art is invested with a rhythm of seasons, harvest, and bloom. Elegantly written and packed with new discoveries, this is a book to be imbibed, ingested, and oft consulted.”—Shira Brisman, University of Pennsylvania“The Trees of the Cross is a truly interdisciplinary study that will resonate beyond art history in the fields of ecology, ethnography, folklore studies, and both economic and agrarian history. Engagingly written, the book provides an important corrective to our broader understanding of the role of nature in late medieval German art.”—Achim Timmermann, University of Michigan

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Book SynopsisOne of the world's most respected writers on art investigates the very different ways painting has given form to the afterlife.Trade Review'A more novel and compelling book about art’s version of the afterlife, and how it is inflected by worldly politics and reality, can hardly be imagined' - Observer, Books of the Year 2018'Utopian modernism has been Clark’s lifetime study, to which this book is an imaginative, heartfelt coda ... gracefully skims a tightrope between attentive looking and political thinking' - Financial Times'Remarkable … You don’t have to be religious to get it. You just have to have faith in the force of belief' - New York Times, Best Art Books of 2018'Lavishly illustrated … there is some characteristically arresting phrase-making' - World of InteriorsTable of Contents1. Giotto and the Angel • 2. Bruegel in Paradise • 3. Poussin and the Unbeliever • 4. Veronese’s Higher Beings • Conclusion: Picasso & the Fall • Coda: For a Left with No Future

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