Christian Iconography: A Study of Its Origins

by André Grabar

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

Christian Iconography examines how the earliest Christian images were created and sheds light on the role they played alongside other forms of Christian piety in their day. André 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 cultural climate in the Roman Empire more broadly, drawing a distinction between expressive images―that is, genuine works of art―and informative ones. Enriching our understanding of early Christian art, this classic book shows how early Christian iconography assimilated contemporary imagery. It establishes the importance of imperial iconography in the development of Christian portraits and discusses dogmas expressed in single and juxtaposed images.

Genres: Art, Art History, Religion, History, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[Viltė Vilūnaitė · Rating 4 out of 5]

kaip apie ikonografiją visai šmaikštu

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable study of the birth of Christian art and symbolism. Without much knowledge of the subject prior to reading this, I had loosely assumed (or resigned to) some kind of divine spark, or immediate comprehension of signs and imagery had occurred. But Grabar meticulously reveals the development over four hundred years (200-600AD); from the unsophisticated origins in the catacombs in Rome to its replacement of Roman civic imagery and locus. The imagery progresses by appropriation and competition with Judaeo and Pagan works, and through this medium Grabar also reveals a lucid window on the advent of the wider Christian story itself.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect to enhance and deepen the knowledge of Christian iconography and it's history.