No comments about Early Christian and Medieval Antiquities: (Vol. 2) Other Mosaics, Paintings, Sarcophagi and Small Objects (The Paper Museum of Cassiano Dal Pozzo. Series a: Antiquities and Architecture, 2).

No comments about Angels.

1 comments about Flames of Devotion: Oil Lamps from South and Southeast Asia and the Himalayas.

1. The 77 pictured lamps and burners out of a total of over 100 donated by a collector to the Fowler Museum "offer a glimpse into the complexities of the symbolic and ritual systems that dominate daily life in South Asia." Most of the lamps are from India, with the next largest group from Nepal and Tibet, and a few from the Southeast Asia countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia. The oldest ones comes from these latter countries. The large majority of the lamps and burners are from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is not a marked difference between older and later Hindu and Buddhist ritual objects as to spiritual figures depicted, shapes, and design details. The objects don't change as in the Western concept of "art styles" or "historical period styles" for instance. What differences there are are that the later ones, of the 20th century, have somewhat more complexity, or sophistication, in their detail presumably from advanced tools and the use of advanced, more modern, machinery in the making of them. The author Anderson with a background in architecture and design discusses the cultural background, use, and production of the Asian lamps and burners. Besides the age of the particular objects, photo captions concisely identify figures in them, what is distinctive as applicable, and how they would be used. The knowledge of the Indian collector of the numerous objects making for the exceptional, broad collection makes the work, though limited in subject matter, especially useful as an introduction and guide to the lamps and burners.

No comments about Faces of Power and Piety (J. Paul Getty Museum Medieval Imagination).

4 comments about Art Treasures of the Mahabharata: Classic Art Depicting India's Most Classic Literature.

1. The battle chronicled in the Mahabharata is one of the most celebrated events in Indian history, a legend that's been told and retold for literally thousands of years.
   I've often wished I could transport back through time to see Krishna, Arjuna and the other heroes of this epic as they actually lived and breathed. While that's not possible, Bhaktisiddhanta offers an alternative: the breathtaking images in this wonderful volume. The sculptures and illustrations here bring the embattled Kurus and Pandavas to life.
   I recommend this book not only to Hindus, but to yoga students who've enjoyed reading the Bhagavad Gita. Here is the story of the heartbreaking war which led Krishna to sing the Gita, and gorgeous, lifelike images of the personalities involved in the tragic events.



2. This book is put out by ISKCON, and includes an excellent summary of the epic for those unfamiliar with it (including an overview of the Bhagavad Gita as interpreted by ISKCON). However, the title is misleading- this book does not include pictures of "classic" renditions of the Mahabharata, but photographs of s modern sculpture in New Delhi called "Glory Of India" (apparently sculpted by the author) paired with sketches by the author. So if you are looking for a short version of the epic that it fairly read-able, great; if you want classic sculpture, not so great (and the art that is show is fine, but not fabulous).



3. A true treasure of a book, Art Treasures of the Mahabharata combines well-told short stories from the Mahabharata with excellent photographs of an amazing work of sculpture that really brings to life this ancient and intriguing epic. As a coffee table book, it never fails to impress my guests, even those who have little knowledge of the ancient Vedic culture. The author, Bhaktisiddhanta, is obviously a highly talented individual who has produced a work that offers homage to beauty, ancient Eastern culture, God, and the soul. I feel good just having this book in my home.



4. With Life And Its Poetry, Mary Ann Fleck Legacy presents a collection of poems composed at various stages of her life in order to express her thoughts and feelings. Her's is a remarkable and literate poetry that reaches across boundaries of background and place to touch something universal in the human experience. Salvation: I trod the path that all must go,/into the Hell of Mind's deep glow./I did not wait for earthly death/to pass the Gate of Fire expressed.//Heaven's anger does not depend/on Man's concept of body end,/but finds the faring on its path/long before the vent of its full wrath.//It's then we know none escape/the Keeper of the Holy Grate--/Lucifer and all his counterparts/do rend the best of human hearts.//Before God rips the earthly bonds,/and we transcend the body state,/He puts us to a rigid test/the Soul must pass to find a rest.//It's then we learn no future date/will send us into Eon's fate,/but Hell is here, and Heaven, too--/Eternity is all we do.

No comments about Preparation: Dramas for Lent (Intermission Scripts).

1 comments about The Lost Glory.

1. For all worship pastors and musicians! We have to take back what the enemy has stolen in the arts. Christians should be the most creative on the earth because we are made by THE creative artist! Buy a copy for your worship pastor or local musician. I read it and am here buying more for my friends.

No comments about Irish Art in the early Christian period.

No comments about Christian Arts and Crafts (Christian Arts & Crafts).

No comments about Images of Space: St. Petersburg in the Visual and Verbal Arts.