Gospel Figures in Art (Guide to Imagery Series) [Paperback]

Stefano Zuffi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 2003

In viewing the great works of sacred Western art, many people find difficulty in understanding the stories and identifying the figures portrayed in them. This informative guide decodes these often-mysterious scenes and reveals a vibrant world of images from the Christian tradition for museum visitors, students, and art enthusiasts alike.
Gospel Figures in Art examines depictions of stories and figures from both the New Testament's canonical gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the apocryphal gospels (early Christian writings excluded from the New Testament because of their unsubstantiated authorship), which served as rich sources of inspiration for medieval and Renaissance artists. Illustrated with masterpieces from many of the world's premier museums, the art works provided as visual references are carefully analyzed. Sections are devoted to the principal figures in the life of Jesus Christ-his family and the evangelists-and to the major biographical turning points: his birth and baptism, his public life, the miracles and good deeds he performed, his crucifixion, resurrection, and the events that followed. This indispensable resource makes the icons and narratives of sacred art come to life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following the basic sequence of events in the New Testament, from the Immaculate Conception to the Resurrection, this valuable handbook offers a plethora of illustrations and, uniquely, diagrams of biblical art, with detailed identifications of even obscure figures and explanations of particular symbols. Mary's loose and long hair demonstrates her virginity, even at the end of her life. Reeds, loosely tied in cross shape, held innocently by toddler Christ, hint at the sorrow to come. Zuffi (Art in Venice) does not hesitate to illustrate the human side of the gospel figures, frequently interpreting body postures and facial expressions. In one 1330 painting, Mary leans slightly backward while nursing the infant Christ, a pose that "derive[s], not from some fixed and unchangeable stereotype, but from a direct vision of reality." The reproductions are often set within the artist's own landscape, with biblical cities such as Jerusalem or Bethlehem resembling an Italian hill town or snowy Dutch village, and sometimes even the artist himself (or the wealthy patron of his work) appears. Terrifically executed, this is a unique book that will enrich viewers' experiences of the art.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum; 1 edition (November 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089236727X
• ISBN-13: 978-0892367276
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will love this book, November 29, 2003

By 

Charles Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gospel Figures in Art (Guide to Imagery Series) (Paperback)

If you think you know the gospels (the first 4 books of the New Testament), this book will open your eyes. If you think you know Western art, this book will teach you things you never knew you didn't know. Every incident in the gospels, as well as every incident that has grown up as a traditional addition to the gospels, is touched on. Then a large number of paintings are beautifully reproduced and annotated in detail. You can think of this book either as illustrating the gospels in detail, or explicating every detail of Western painting based on the gospels. A sheer delight. A wonderful treasure.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book on art !, February 22, 2006

By 

Valery Marachevsky (St.Petersburg, Russia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gospel Figures in Art (Guide to Imagery Series) (Paperback)

In "Guide to Imagery Series" books I found the books on art
that give an exceptionally clear presentation of the subject.
I bought 6 books from this series ("Gospel figures in art" among them) and I really found what I was searching for. You can study Old and New Testament as well as ancient mythology reading these books, understand the role of different details, symbols drawn on each picture. Inside each book there is a short description of the specific topic followed by full-colour reproductions of the pictures on this topic from different museums all over the world with detailed explanations to each picture. It was amazing to find and understand the meaning of different pictures I saw in art galleries in St.Petersburg, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Venice, Naples and other places. Really a great selection of art works is presented in each of these books. I strongly recommend all these books to everybody who wants to understand the meaning of the pictures and get a nice art collection at home.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You are missing out!, October 12, 2004

By 

love to learn (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gospel Figures in Art (Guide to Imagery Series) (Paperback)

This book is spectacular ... don't miss it! It offers a comprehensive look at old testament artwork from the masters that will inspire you over and over again. It follows a basic chronological order that works well with the study of ancient history. Much information is given, yet it is concise and to the point. Beautiful for all ages!