No comments about Envisioning Gender in Burgundian Devotional Art, 1350û1530: Experience, Authority, Resistance (Women and Gender in the Early Modern World).

2 comments about Prayers and Portraits: Unfolding the Netherlandish Diptych (National Gallery Of Art, Washington).

1. This collection is beautiful. I was initially reluctant because of the price but it was worth every penny. Reproductions are incredible.



2. This is a beautiful book, replete with high-quality illustrations and in-depth studies of all the works displayed in the 2007 exhibition it illustrates. It is a treasure trove of information on early Flemish painting, stressing technical as well as stylistic details, recalling the historical context of every work and showing how the image of man was, little by little, superseding that of god.
   
   This book is destined to become a collector's piece. Undoubtedly one of the best recent art publications, as far as illustrations and scientific research are concerned.

1 comments about A House for the Most High: The Story of the Original Nauvoo Temple.

1. This is the kind of book that you learn something on every page. This book is a comprehensive telling of the contruction of the Nauvoo Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). It begins with a brief overview of the temple in LDS theology, then quickly moves into year-to-year, month-to-month, day-to-day events of the contruction process. The author takes you to the present-day.
   
   There are gems all along the way. Just one of the items I particularly loved was the manner in which bishops became ecclesiastical leaders over ward units. Learn about the trials that beset the Saints during contruction. The sources used are originals, from newspapers, journals, and talks.
   
   Many stories are included that enrich the text. The book is written from a faithful Latter-day Saint perspective. McBride does a nice job of balancing the sacred with the interesting. I would recommend this book of anyone interested in reading about the Nauvoo Temple.

No comments about An Illustrated Life of Jesus.

No comments about Mornings in Florence.

1 comments about Durer's Passions.

1. 2 handsome slipcased volumes focusing on Durer's many images of Christ's passion, explored in all the graphic media he employed. One volume of excellent reproductions, the second of text explaining the images. I borrowed it 10 times from the library, and glad it was finally available on Amazon.

No comments about IMAGES OF BYZANTIUM: LEARNING ABOUT ICONS.

1 comments about The Stammheim Missal (Getty Museum Studies on Art).

1. The Stammhein Missal was painted in the 12th century in northern Germany at the monastery of Saint Michael at Hildesheim and remained in the abbey till 1803 when the monastery was secularized. This is an outstanding work of Romanesque art with a variety of full page miniatures all enhanced with liberal amounts of gold and silver leaf.
   
   The original book is in excellent condition and currently resides in the Getty Museum. This small book on the manuscript takes you through the history of the missal, and illustrates all the main carpet pages of the book with most of the images in colour. It is not a full reproduction of the manuscript but it is enough to let you know that you are looking at an extraordinary book that has survived in remarkable condition and this is probably the closest most of us will ever get to such a lovely early manuscript like this.
   
   Recommended if you want to know more about Romanesque illuminated manuscripts (they are very different from the later medieval books) or to get an insight into a book which is rarely otherwise seen in art and illumination books.

1 comments about Grail: Quest for the Eternal (Art & Imagination).

1. Of all the books printed on the legend of the Holy Grail, this one has the best variety of artwork from the history of the myth. This book was also used by the prop makers of Henry Jones Sr.'s grail diary in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

2 comments about The Meaning of Icons.

1. About icons and their meaning I already had (and read) a lot in the Russian language, but until now I didn't have content and illustrations in one hand. That's for me the meaning of the Meaning. It is short, gives the theological and canonical information about the role of the icon in Eastern Orthodoxy from inside, the themes are worked out and clearly arranged, the illustrations are big and beautyful. So, I am very glad that I sought for it and bought it.



2. Among the many books on icons, this is one of the oldest still in print. Why has it become a classic? Because it was written by one of the greatest twentieth century theologians, Vladimir Lossky, and by one of the greatest 20th century iconographers,Leonide Ouspensky who spent the whole of his artistic life in France painting icons and frescoes. Their approach is unique not only because of their deep experience of the Orthodox faith, but also because of the way they decided to describe the colour prints reproduced in this volume. What we have here is a superb commentary in the form of selection of poetry from the feasts during which these icons are placed in the middle of the church. Much of this Byzantine hymnography has no parallel in the West. It is what is heard in the eastern Christian church throughout the liturgical year which this volume beautifully illustrates both in word and image. The authors' feeling for the uplifting prayer of which icons play such a vital part is genuine and rarely found in any other book about the iconographic tradition. All Christians and many non-Christians will appreciate their respectful presentation of the revelation of God to man as it is presented in this book.