Christ our Light: Praying with Rembrandt's Etchings of the Life of Christ [Hardcover]

Anne Margot Boyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0826417566 | ISBN-13: 978-0826417565 | Edition: 2

Fifteen etchings from the life of Christ by the incomparable Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69), with a commentary highlighting each scene’s religious significance. When Rembrandt was a young artist in 17th-century Holland, paintings and statues had been removed from Protestant churches. But people still desired to see Jesus. They wanted pictures of the life of Christ in their Bibles and prayer books and to hang on their walls at home. Rembrandt was working in a long tradition of Eastern and Western Christian artists who made images of Jesus that reveal him as Emmanuel, as God with us. They are not trying to depict God—impossible!—or simply show the human side of Jesus. Rather, they show us a human life radiating the light and force, the energy, of God. When an artist approaches the making of an image of Jesus in a spirit of prayer and reverence, as Rembrandt seems to have done, the result is an image that invites us to open ourselves to God’s action. Such an invitation—to let God transform us through the contemplation of a prayerful image—is similar to opening ourselves to the word of God in slow, meditative reading of the Bible. In using visual images in prayer, the “viewer” takes the opportunity to pause and to ruminate, exploring the depths of the image, so that heart speaks to heart in silent communion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the book is beautifully presented and would be a thoughtful gift for anyone who is interested in contemplative prayer." -- Episcopal Life (Episcopal Life )

"In this book a wide variety of Rembrandt's etchings are reproduced along with meditations that illuminate the compassion of Jesus. The combination of religious art and contemporary prayers brings the events of Jesus' life into our own lives through word and through image. Rembrandt's masterpiece art of the twenty-first century encourage is to let God transform our hearts and minds in silent, prayerful reverence and communion."- The Faith Connection, March 19, 2006 (Faith Connection )

"...[Boyd] leaves the readers free to pray at their will, inspired by the beautiful etchings, to which she adds only some art commentary and appropriate passages from Scripture." -The B.C. Catholic, October 3, 2005

“…the book is beautifully presented and would be a thoughtful gift for anyone who is interested in contemplative prayer.” – Episcopal Life (Episcopal Life )

“In this book a wide variety of Rembrandt’s etchings are reproduced along with meditations that illuminate the compassion of Jesus. The combination of religious art and contemporary prayers brings the events of Jesus’ life into our own lives through word and through image. Rembrandt’s masterpiece art of the twenty-first century encourage is to let God transform our hearts and minds in silent, prayerful reverence and communion.”- The Faith Connection, March 19, 2006 (, )

“…[Boyd] leaves the readers free to pray at their will, inspired by the beautiful etchings, to which she adds only some art commentary and appropriate passages from Scripture.” -The B.C. Catholic, October 3, 2005

About the Author

Anne Margot Boyd is an editor, writer, and Dominican Associate.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Continuum; 2 edition (July 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826417566
• ISBN-13: 978-0826417565
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,602,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice book to accompany one during prayer, January 23, 2011

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James (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Christ our Light: Praying with Rembrandt's Etchings of the Life of Christ (Hardcover)

This is a nice little book to accompany one during evening or morning prayer but NOT an art history text nor coffee table book.