Christian Iconography: A Study of Its Origins

André Grabar

Published by Princeton University Press 1969

Christian Iconography

A Study of Its Origins

André Grabar

Volume 35 in the series The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts

In the series Bollingen Series (General)

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691252094

Overview
Contents

About this book

An illuminating look at the iconography of the early church and its important place in the history of Christian art

In this book, historian André Grabar demonstrates how early Christian iconography assimilated contemporary imagery of the time. Grabar looks at the most characteristic examples of paleo-Christian iconography, dwelling on their nature, form, and content. He explores the limits of originality in such art, its debt to figurative art, and the broader cultural climate in the Roman Empire, drawing a distinction between expressive images—that is, genuine works of art—and informative ones. Throughout, Grabar establishes the importance of imperial iconography in the development of Christian portraits and sheds light on the role they played alongside other forms of Christian piety in their day.

Author / Editor information

André Grabar (1896–1990) was an internationally renowned historian of Byzantine and medieval art and a central figure at Dumbarton Oaks, the research institute of Harvard University in Washington, DC. His many books include Byzantine and Early Medieval Painting and Romanesque Painting from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Century.

Reviews

"Packed with the observant scholarship for which the author has long been famous."---Cornelius C. Vermeule III, Classical World

"Grabar considers his material with a wisdom and good sense all his own."---John Beckwith, Apollo

"A major contribution to the history of Christianity and Europe."

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Table of Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
List of Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	xxxix
Introduction Publicly Available Download PDF	xli
PART ONE
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
I. The First Steps Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
II. The Assimilation of Contemporary Imagery Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
PART TWO
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
III. The Portrait Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	60
IV. The Historical Scene Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
PART THREE
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
V. Dogmas Expressed in a Single Image Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	112
VI. Dogmas Represented by Juxtaposed Images Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	128
SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	159
ILLUSTRATIONS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175

Language: English
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Copyright year: 1969
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 432
Illustrations
- Other: 346 b/w illus.

eBook

Published: October 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780691252094