Rosa Giorgi Books

In this richly illustrated volume Rosa Giorgi argues that because much of Western art depicts key events, leaders, and practices in the history of the Christian Church, knowledge of that history is critical to an appreciation of many of our great masterpieces.  Giorgi begins by analyzing artistic representations of liturgical objects, including altars, crosses, and censers, and follows with an examination of the duties and vestments of the variety of clerics, ranging from minor clerks to the pope. Both the rituals of the monastic life and worshippers’ devotional practices are well documented in paintings depicting prayer, communal meals, funeral rites, religious processions, and cult practices. The author next turns to artworks that capture important episodes from the Church’s history, including crusades and pilgrimages, the Inquisition and the Reformation, and power struggles between popes and secular rulers. Giorgi ends with an analysis of the lives and portraits of the notable leaders who contributed to this fascinating history, from Peter and Paul to Thomas More to Pope Paul VI .

Analyzing artists' representations of angels and demons and heaven and hell from the Judeo-Christian tradition, this volume describes how they evolved over time. Divided into chapters, it looks at these images, and how they came to be portrayed with the physical attributes - wings, halos, horns, and cloven hooves.

A guide to identifying Christian saints as they are portrayed in art. From Agatha to Zeno, it presents the characteristic features of over 100 saints, with notes on their lives and martyrdom and visual references to help readers recognize them. The resource features a collection of masterpieces.

(...) Die bildende Kunst hat von Anbeginn diese christlich geprägten Themen begleitet und dem Gestalt verliehen, was nie ein Mensch zu Gesicht gekommen hat, dessen Existenz aber nicht bezweifelt wurde. Dabei bediente sie sich der Vorbilder aus der Antike oder schuf durch Erneuerung der tradierten Bildmotive Vorlagen für Darstellungen, welche in einigen glücklichen Fällen nahezu unversehrt bis heute erhalten blieben und immer noch lesbar sin.§§Das vorliegende Bildlexikon ist nach übergeordneten Themen gegliedert: Vom Anfang der Zeit (die Schöpfung) über verschiedene Stationen bis zum Weg über einen "von der Erde in den Himmel" gedachten Pfad begegnet der Mensch der Welt der spirituellen Wesen und endet idealterweise bei den himmlischen Heerscharen, dem letzten Kapitel. (...) (aus der Einführung)