What do you think?
Rate this book
Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings
During the early Renaissance period (14th to 16th century AD), artists were at the forefront of redefining every aspect of human development, marking an unprecedented shift for human civilisation. Their paintings were a clear break from the past in portraying Biblical stories. The Old Masters portrayed human predicament with unmatched intensity. Their subjects were endowed with movement, dynamism and emotion never before seen in earlier paintings. Do Renaissance artists have a message for us today? How do we live differently in the light of their message? These questions are the starting point for the author as he interprets the paintings in today's context. The book contains 30 paintings most of them from the Renaissance period. Every one of these paintings provides an important reflection that challenges you to live to the full and to live audaciously.
146 pages, Paperback
Published January 4, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2019
Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings, written by Varghese Philip, is a Christian devotional exploring the religious perspective of Renaissance art. Varghese Philip explores the Biblical inspiration behind the production of some of the most renowned artwork of the Renaissance from Michaelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni’s Creation of Adam to Giotto di Bondone’s Renunciation of Worldly Gods. Portraying the words and meaning of the Bible through visualisation of Renaissance art.
Rather than delving into a critique or deconstruction of the artists’ work, the artwork shown in Living Audaciously, are cleverly used as illustrations to complement the text of Varghese Philip’s devotional message. The reader is guided through verses of the Bible with the emphasis of the scenes and emotions portrayed from the Renaissance perspective of well-known Bible stories. After describing the basis of the imagery shown, Varghese Philip guides the reader to the Bible verse from where the artists’ inspirations were drawn. Creating a self-help message of how to live an audacious Christian life. Posing such challenges to the reader:
What should be embraced or sacrificed in life to engage with God deeply?
How can we inspire courage in others, to help them find the light in the depth of darkness?
After salvation, how can we evolve in ourselves to live a Christ-like life and be an example to others?
How to draw strength from faith to overcome our fears and enable us to live audaciously?
As with the style of devotional writing, Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings, is written to be read one section a day, in a month timeframe. The reader is encouraged to reflect with Varghese Philip about the inspiration, and Bible verses related to the artistry of the Renaissance, and digest the message of faith, compassion, and hope.
The moral challenges throughout the book are poised from a Renaissance perspective and portray how the moral challenges and viewpoints of the Renaissance have survived into the Contemporary. As indeed, Christianity has survived throughout time for better or worse as a leading viewpoint in the functions of society and personal morality. Although Varghese Philip’s devotional portrays insights and challenges of living a better life from a Christian viewpoint, Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings, would be a beneficial read for all who have an interest in self-improvement.
Rather than delving into a critique or deconstruction of the artists’ work, the artwork shown in Living Audaciously, are cleverly used as illustrations to complement the text of Varghese Philip’s devotional message. The reader is guided through verses of the Bible with the emphasis of the scenes and emotions portrayed from the Renaissance perspective of well-known Bible stories. After describing the basis of the imagery shown, Varghese Philip guides the reader to the Bible verse from where the artists’ inspirations were drawn. Creating a self-help message of how to live an audacious Christian life. Posing such challenges to the reader:
What should be embraced or sacrificed in life to engage with God deeply?
How can we inspire courage in others, to help them find the light in the depth of darkness?
After salvation, how can we evolve in ourselves to live a Christ-like life and be an example to others?
How to draw strength from faith to overcome our fears and enable us to live audaciously?
As with the style of devotional writing, Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings, is written to be read one section a day, in a month timeframe. The reader is encouraged to reflect with Varghese Philip about the inspiration, and Bible verses related to the artistry of the Renaissance, and digest the message of faith, compassion, and hope.
The moral challenges throughout the book are poised from a Renaissance perspective and portray how the moral challenges and viewpoints of the Renaissance have survived into the Contemporary. As indeed, Christianity has survived throughout time for better or worse as a leading viewpoint in the functions of society and personal morality. Although Varghese Philip’s devotional portrays insights and challenges of living a better life from a Christian viewpoint, Living Audaciously: 30 Reflections on Renaissance Paintings, would be a beneficial read for all who have an interest in self-improvement.
June 20, 2019
This book compiles 30 paintings from the Renaissance period that depict biblical stories, and the author has written a short but profound perspective on each one, expounding on the meaning of both the painting and the story.
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Having growing up around art, and feeling the urge lately to spend some time reflecting on paintings that depict Biblical stories for the visual element of study and reflection, this book was well-timed for me.
You might think the chapters will be laborious or long, with flowery language, and difficult to get through. None of that is the case. These are short chapters, with thought-provoking perspective throughout. This has quickly become one of my favorite devotional books. Not only are these timeless paintings, but the chapters also lend themselves to being revisited again and again for more opportunity to think, reflect, and pray on what God may be saying to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Having growing up around art, and feeling the urge lately to spend some time reflecting on paintings that depict Biblical stories for the visual element of study and reflection, this book was well-timed for me.
You might think the chapters will be laborious or long, with flowery language, and difficult to get through. None of that is the case. These are short chapters, with thought-provoking perspective throughout. This has quickly become one of my favorite devotional books. Not only are these timeless paintings, but the chapters also lend themselves to being revisited again and again for more opportunity to think, reflect, and pray on what God may be saying to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2019
This shows 30 examples of the Renaissance paintings by some of the great artists of the time. These show the different periods of the Bible. Each is very interesting but would think that the paintings would show better in a hardback book than the kindle.
March 9, 2021
I found this book fascinating. I don't know much about art and I found this easy to dive into. Recommend for people interested learning more about Renaissance art.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews