Variations In Christian Art

The artistic traditions of four major Christian denominations are examined and outlined in detail in this groundbreaking volume that presents the first synthesis of the artistic contributions of those traditions. Diane Apostolos-Cappadona has curated a volume that presents four single-authored contributions in one place, broadening the study of Christian art beyond Roman Catholic, Orthodox and 'protestant' traditions to consider these more recent Christian approaches in close and expert detail. Rachel Epp Buller examines art in the Mennonite tradition, Mormon art is considered by Heather Belnap, Quaker contributions by Rowena Loverance and Swedenborgian art by Diane Apostolos-Cappadona. Each writer presents elements of the theology of their chosen tradition through the prism of the artists and artistic works that they have selected. Alongside mainstream artistic figures such as William Blake less known figures come to the fore and the volume features color illustrations that support and underline the theological and artistic themes presented in each section of the book. Together these studies of artistic presentations in these four traditions will be a much need means of filling a gap in the study of Christian art.

The artistic traditions of four major Christian denominations are examined and outlined in detail in this groundbreaking volume that presents the first synthesis of the artistic contributions of those traditions. Diane Apostolos-Cappadona has curated a volume that presents four single-authored contributions in one place, broadening the study of Christian art beyond Roman Catholic, Orthodox and 'protestant' traditions to consider these more recent Christian approaches in close and expert detail. Rachel Epp Buller examines art in the Mennonite tradition, Mormon art is considered by Heather Belnap, Quaker contributions by Rowena Loverance and Swedenborgian art by Diane Apostolos-Cappadona. Each writer presents elements of the theology of their chosen tradition through the prism of the artists and artistic works that they have selected. Alongside mainstream artistic figures such as William Blake less known figures come to the fore and the volume features color illustrations that support and underline the theological and artistic themes presented in each section of the book. Together these studies of artistic presentations in these four traditions will be a much need means of filling a gap in the study of Christian art.

Christian images have a long history within the Western art tradition from the narrative and devotional works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, to the radical new interpretations of the twenty-first century. This fascinating new book explores the changing nature of the representation of key themes and subjects found in Christian art, covering the Eucharist, the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. Other sections deal with the changes to Christian art after the sixteenth-century Reformation, and with Christian art in the modern world. Within these themes, the book explores the work of major artists such as Memling, Holbein, El Greco and Rossetti, and well-known examples including the frescoes of St Francis at Assisi. Didactic and consciously devotional works are discussed alongside the controversial work of contemporary artists such as Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Examines the use and meaning of Christian symbols found in Renaissance art.

In The Mushroom in Christian Art, author John A. Rush uses an artistic motif to define the nature of Christian art, establish the identity of Jesus, and expose the motive for his murder. Covering Christian art from 200 CE (common era) to the present, the author reveals that Jesus, the Teacher of Righteousness mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls, is a personification of the Holy Mushroom, Amanita muscaria. The mushroom, Rush argues, symbolizes numerous mind-altering substances—psychoactive mushrooms, cannabis, henbane, and mandrake—used by the early, more experimentally minded Christian sects. Drawing on primary historical sources, Rush traces the history—and face—of Jesus as being constructed and codified only after 325 CE. The author relates Jesus’s life to a mushroom typology, discovering its presence, disguised, in early Christian art. In the process, he reveals the ritual nature of the original Christian cults, rites, and rituals, including mushroom use. The book authoritatively uncovers Jesus’s message of peace, love, and spiritual growth and proposes his murder as a conspiracy by powerful reactionary forces who would replace that message with the oppressive religious-political system that endures to this day. Rush’s use of the mushroom motif as a springboard for challenging mainstream views of Western religious history is both provocative and persuasive. The package includes a link to 252 striking color images depicting Christian art, with key motifs indicated by the author.