Sister Wendy's Meditations on Peace

by Wendy Beckett

Explores the spiritual message about peace contained within eighteen works of art

Genres: Christianity, Christian Non Fiction, Art

48 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 1995

About the author

Sister Wendy Beckett was a South African-born British art expert, Roman Catholic nun, and contemplative hermit who became an unlikely celebrity during the 1990s, presenting a series of acclaimed art history documentaries for the BBC.

Reviews

[Jane Riordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A small coffee table book really. It was amongst some reading material in a hotel room and I was suitably intrigued, not least because how often are guests treated to a mini library.

Most of the meditations contain the word 'peace' in the title - conditional peace, choosing peace, the illusion of peace; and then Sister Wendy uses a famous painting as the focus for her thoughts.

There seemed to be a balance between strongly faith-based meditations and those more aimed at the secular.

I didn't find them particularly inspiring or thought provoking, but perhaps the purpose was actually to get people to find a different way to look at art, rather than thinking theologically about peace.

[Coenraad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Wendy Beckett contemplates different aspects of peace and links each with a specially selected art work. She often uses details from larger works, indicating the wealth of art that was sifted through and the keen eye that linked thought and image. Some readers might find the presentation a tad random, but should be thankful for the introduction to unusual art works, old and modern, and the unpreachy thought accompanying each.

Suster Wendy Beckett verbind ongewone kunswerke (soms detail uit groter werke) met aspekte van vrede, waaroor sy telkens 'n kort oordenking neerpen. Hoewel die verband tussen kunswerk en gedagte dalk effe lukraak mag voorkom, maak die keuse van beelde (oud én modern) alleen dit die moeite werd om die boekie deur te blaai.

[Sarah Yasin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister Wendy is amazing.