Painting the Word: Christian Pictures and Their Meanings [Hardcover]

John Drury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 1999

In this beautifully written book John Drury brings his knowledge and experience as both priest and biblical scholar to Christian paintings and presents them to us afresh. He shows how the images in works by artists from Duccio to Velazquez have a universal quality that fills them with passion, stories, and meaning, not only for audiences of the past but also for viewers today.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Painting the Word: Christian Pictures and their Meanings by John Drury, an Anglican priest who is dean of Christ Church, Oxford, is a wise, accessible, elegant, and beautiful book about Christian art. Painting the Word presents dazzling color reproductions of masterpieces by Rembrandt, Raphael, Rubens, Velázquez, Piero della Francesca, Cézanne, and others, accompanied by a text that does not merely analyze and explain these pictures but also meditates upon them, and even encourages readers to inhabit them. Drury's introduction explains his project: "This is a book about how Christian paintings convey their messages. It takes on whole paintings. It is not content with just picking symbols out of them for identification. Composition, color, contents (including architecture and landscape as well as figures) and the ways in which the paint itself is handled--all are treated as part and parcel of their religious meanings." Drury justifies his critical approach by pointing out that these pictures come from a time when western civilization and Christianity were coterminous. Contemporary spectators are visitors to this foreign world. However, Drury expertly draws us into this world in light, straightforward language. (Many of the chapters in this book began as sermons.) "Worship and looking at pictures require the same kind of attention," Drury explains, "a mixture of curiosity with a relaxed readiness to let things suggest themselves in their own good time." Put this way, paying attention becomes a calling. And as Drury describes this calling, it is hard to imagine a higher one. --Michael Joseph Gross

From Library Journal

Historic Christianity is a foreign country, and we are tourists, just visiting but often not understanding. Drury offers a guidebook of sorts to help the contemporary reader decipher the messages conveyed in Christian art. Priest, scholar, and dean of Christ Church at Oxford, Drury is well qualified to offer this course. Using paintings from the 14th to 17th centuries, he attempts to show us the breadth and depth of culture at that time so that we can better understand the theology and meaning behind Christian art. Aiming at the educated lay reader, Drury peppers the chapters with poetry and Bible quotes. The paintings discussed are selective, focusing on religious theme rather than periods. Though one wishes the illustrations had been bigger, this well-written art history and art appreciation is a delight to read. Highly recommended for larger public libraries or any art history collection.
-Karen Ellis, Nicholson Memorial Lib. Syst., Garland, TX
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press / National Gallery; 1st edition (November 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300077777
• ISBN-13: 978-0300077773
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,717,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for students of art and Christian imagery., February 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting the Word: Christian Pictures and Their Meanings (Hardcover)

This survey of links between Christian worship and paintings provides a fine analysis of how Christian paintings convey their messages. Plenty of examples from Christian paintings from all eras accompany insights which began with the dean author's sermons on the topic. The result will interest any concerned with Christian images.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sharing an artists vision, February 17, 2004

By 

Martin D. Sewell "martin sewell" (uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Painting the Word: Christian Pictures and Their Meanings (Hardcover)

John Drury is an art historian who uses his vocation as a priest to explain the subtlety of meaning that lies hidden in the symbolism of religious paintings in London's National Gallery.

Anyone how has looked at such a painting but not "seen" it, would do well to read this wonderful book and share the insights that the author offers. Paintings that I would have passed by with scarcely a second glance, are revealed within a context of their time, with reference to their history, the world view of the artist, the common and uncommon symbolism employed and much else besides.

It gives the possibility of sharing a visual language that we have lost and enables us to understand what it is about a picture that we sense is great, without comprehending why that might be.

It is hard to think that anyone who has ever visited an art gallery could not profit from reading this book and has certainly given me the enthusiasm to go and look at the pictures for myself.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book to Ponder Painters View of Scripture, May 14, 2001

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Painting the Word: Christian Pictures and Their Meanings (Hardcover)

This is an absolutely exquisite book, with highgloss paper and wonderful color reproductions of marvelous paintings.

To this, Drury offers his expert commentary on how one might look at these paintings to see the painter's perspective on the Christian faith.

One will learn much about looking at paintings, and will never casually observe a painting again. I especially have grown fond of two paintings that this marvelous book acquainted me with, Titian's "Vendramin Family" and Lippi's "The Annunciation." Drury's comments here are very useful.

I would like to give this five stars, but withheld this because of my disagreement theologically with Drury. His theology is far too liberal for me, and I'm afraid that he will sway many who will trust his opinion of Divine Scripture as "the gospel truth, or historical critical truth."

A book to consider to turn to to aid one in viewing Christian painting.