The Life of Christ in Art Book

The life of Jesus Christ is the most passionately and persistently depicted subject in the history of Western Art. There is no portrait of Christ painted or drawn from life; not even a brief physical description of him appears in the Bible. Nonetheless, for nearly two millennia artists have been portraying Christ in loving detail. Some have some him in setting and costumes from their own period, others have attempted to present him with historical accuracy. Some have aimed for instructive realism, others for emotional intensity. Although artists were strictly guided by Church doctrine, many of them---from Giotto, Sandro Botticelli, and Lucas Cranach to El Greco, Rembrant, and William Blake---infused their images with a persuasive sense of personal faith as well as inventive originality.

The glorious images in this color-filled volume encompass some of the world's most beautiful paintings, sculpture, tapestries, stained glass, and precious objects from the early Christian era to the present. In combination with the graceful text they tell the story of Christ's life from the nativity through his milestones and miracles to the crucifixion, resurrection, and Last Judgement. The concise chapter introductions explain the symbolism of the images and offer an overview of how the portrayal of Christ has evolved over the past two millennia. Quotations from the Bible open each chapter and are interwoven throughout, offering an illuminating counterpoint to the art.