The Lion companion to Christian art

Ranging from the earliest Christians up to present day, this expansive study provides a complete history of Christian art as it appeared in the West as well as parts of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The purposes behind history’s greatest masterpieces are explored along with the context in which they were created, and the manner in which art has both reflected and stimulated Christian thought and experience throughout the ages is also addressed. Interspersed in the narrative are brief articles from a number of art experts on such topics as Icons; Renaissance Florence; Rubens and the Counter-Reformation; Religious Folk Art; Making the St. John’s Bible; and Christianity in Contemporary Art in North America. Sumptuously illustrated with more than 150 images of paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, and other works, this is a comprehensive look at how the world’s finest artists have sought to convey the stories, beliefs, and mysteries of the Christian faith.