Greatest Works Of Art Of Western Civilization

A former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York chooses the 111 works of art--culled from the entire history of Western civilization--that have influenced him most, reproduced in full-color and complemented by his interpretations. Tour.

With fresh insight into what the great works meant when they were created and why they appeal to us now, here is a vivid tour of painting, sculpture, and architecture, past and present. "Illuminating . . . a notable accomplishment".--The New York Times. Illustrated.

Rarely has an artist been so closely associated with a single work as is Jay DeFeo with her painting "The Rose". In this major study of "The Rose" in particular and of Jay DeFeo in general, 11 art and cultural historians and writers unfold the story of the creation and rescue of her masterpiece.

Today, the voices from the secular left are hard at work removing any trace of religion from government and the law. Meanwhile, secular historians have successfully limited Christianity’s contribution in history to the Crusades and Inquisitions; as if that is all Christians have to speak for. The real story is quite different, primarily that everything good in Western Civilization has its roots in the Christian religion. How Christianity Built Western Civilization is the epic tale of how our Christian forefathers stood up to history’s darkest forces, to forge a new way of life, grounded in the biblical worldview. Over the centuries it has become evident that Western Civilization has emerged as mankind’s greatest achievement. It is here where the greatest political and economic systems were born, and here that we see the concept of human rights emerge, along with the modern scientific process and the greatest discoveries. It is in the West that we find the most advanced educational institutions, along with the greatest charities, artistic masterpieces and architectural innovations. Is this a coincidence, or the deliberate result of our worldview? How Christianity Built Western Civilization answers this question with chapters on human rights, modern science, universal education, charity, art and architecture; focusing entirely on the revolutionary milestones and individuals that made these achievements possible. Each chapter unfolds chronologically, starting with the biblical foundation and moving through the work of the early and Medieval Church, arriving at modern times. The author builds a compelling case demonstrating how Western Civilization would be indistinguishable from India, China or Africa today, if not for the teachings of Christ and the Bible.

Whether it is being studied or critiqued, the art canon is usually understood as an authoritative list of important works and artists. This collection breaks with the idea of a singular, transcendent canon. Through provocative case studies, it demonstrates that the content of any canon is both historically and culturally specific and dependent on who is responsible for the canon’s production and maintenance. The contributors explore how, where, why, and by whom canons are formed; how they function under particular circumstances; how they are maintained; and why they may undergo change. Focusing on various moments from the seventeenth century to the present, the contributors cover a broad geographic terrain, encompassing the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Taiwan, and South Africa. Among the essays are examinations of the working and reworking of a canon by an influential nineteenth-century French critic, the limitations placed on what was acceptable as canonical in American textbooks produced during the Cold War, the failed attempt to define a canon of Rembrandt’s works, and the difficulties of constructing an artistic canon in parts of the globe marked by colonialism and the imposition of Eurocentric ideas of artistic value. The essays highlight the diverse factors that affect the production of art canons: market forces, aesthetic and political positions, nationalism and ingrained ideas concerning the cultural superiority of particular groups, perceptions of gender and race, artists’ efforts to negotiate their status within particular professional environments, and the dynamics of art history as an academic discipline and discourse. This volume is a call to historicize canons, acknowledging both their partisanship and its implications for the writing of art history. Contributors. Jenny Anger, Marcia Brennan, Anna Brzyski, James Cutting, Paul Duro, James Elkins, Barbara Jaffee, Robert Jensen, Jane C. Ju, Monica Kjellman-Chapin, Julie L. McGee, Terry Smith, Linda Stone-Ferrier, Despina Stratigakos

Provides a collection of travel articles on the culture, cuisine, and everyday life of the Greek city, along with bibliographies and practical tips on transportation, culinary treasures, accommodations, and sights.

A national bestseller! Why do so many people think the Bible, the most influential book in world history, is outdated? Why do our friends and neighbors – and sometimes we ourselves – dismiss the Bible as irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things? This explanation of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, will demonstrate that the Bible is not only powerfully relevant to today’s issues, but completely consistent with rational thought. Do you think the Bible permitted the trans-Atlantic slave trade? You won’t after reading this book. Do you struggle to love your parents? If you do, you need this book. Do you doubt the existence of God because belief in God is “irrational?” This book will give you reason after reason to rethink your doubts. The title of this commentary is, “The Rational Bible” because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. As Prager says, “If something I write does not make rational sense, I have not done my job.” The Rational Bible is the fruit of Dennis Prager’s forty years of teaching the Bible to people of every faith, and no faith. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world and to your life. His goal: to change your mind – and then change your life.