In viewing the great works of sacred Western art, many people find
difficulty in understanding the stories and identifying the figures
portrayed in them. This informative guide decodes these often-mysterious
scenes and reveals a vibrant world of images from the Christian
tradition for museum
visitors, students, and art enthusiasts alike.
Gospel Figures in Art examines depictions of stories and figures from
both the New Testament's canonical gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John) and the apocryphal gospels (early Christian writings
excluded from the New Testament because of their unsubstantiated
authorship), which
served as rich sources of inspiration for medieval and Renaissance
artists. Illustrated with masterpieces from many of the world's premier
museums, the art works provided as visual references are carefully
analyzed. Sections are devoted to the principal figures in the life of
Jesus Christ-his family
and the evangelists-and to the major biographical turning points: his
birth and baptism, his public life, the miracles and good deeds he
performed, his crucifixion, resurrection, and the events that followed.
This indispensable resource makes the icons and narratives of sacred art
come to
life.