Holy Faces: Signs, Symbols, and Themes in World Art – Harutyunyan Kaya – IS – 2026 – ISBN 978-5-17-185213-9
Holy Faces: Signs, Symbols, and Themes in World Art
39.99 €
In stock
Holy Faces: Signs, Symbols, and Themes in World Art
39.99 €
Have you ever stood before an ancient painting, admiring its beauty and sensing that every gesture, object, and color conceals a hidden meaning? This isn't a dry academic work or a theological reference book. This book is a captivating quest, the goal of which is to teach you to "read" masterpieces of world painting as their contemporaries did. You'll embark on a journey into history, cultural studies, and the spiritual quest of humanity.
How can you distinguish a random artistic device from a profound theological concept? Art historian Kaya Arutyunyan will open the doors to the world of Christian art: from the first symbols of the Roman catacombs to the greatest paintings of the Renaissance and Baroque. You'll learn to unmistakably recognize saints by their "calling cards"—attributes, decipher the hidden symbolism of flowers, animals, and objects, and trace how the visual language of artists changed from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era. Each chapter is structured as an art historical investigation: using examples from the works of Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Hieronymus Bosch, Dürer, Mantegna, and other geniuses, the reader will discover behind the superficial beauty the strict logic of canons, theological allusions, and historical realities of the era. A unique synthesis of rigorous scholarly scholarship, deep immersion in cultural context, and a vibrant, emotional appreciation of art has enabled the author to create a fundamental yet surprisingly accessible guide to the visual codes of Christian painting.
This book will be an indispensable tool for humanities students, museum professionals, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to move beyond superficial admiration to a professional understanding of art.
Turn an ordinary museum visit or album browsing into a captivating art historical investigation!
How can you distinguish a random artistic device from a profound theological concept? Art historian Kaya Arutyunyan will open the doors to the world of Christian art: from the first symbols of the Roman catacombs to the greatest paintings of the Renaissance and Baroque. You'll learn to unmistakably recognize saints by their "calling cards"—attributes, decipher the hidden symbolism of flowers, animals, and objects, and trace how the visual language of artists changed from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era. Each chapter is structured as an art historical investigation: using examples from the works of Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Hieronymus Bosch, Dürer, Mantegna, and other geniuses, the reader will discover behind the superficial beauty the strict logic of canons, theological allusions, and historical realities of the era. A unique synthesis of rigorous scholarly scholarship, deep immersion in cultural context, and a vibrant, emotional appreciation of art has enabled the author to create a fundamental yet surprisingly accessible guide to the visual codes of Christian painting.
This book will be an indispensable tool for humanities students, museum professionals, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to move beyond superficial admiration to a professional understanding of art.
Turn an ordinary museum visit or album browsing into a captivating art historical investigation!
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Art: A Gift Encyclopedia