Illuminating Luke: The Infancy Narrative in Italian Renaissance Painting - Softcover

Hornik, Heidi J.; Parsons, Mikeal C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563384051 ISBN 13: 9781563384059

Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2003

Synopsis

Written by a biblical scholar in collaboration with an art historian, Illuminating Luke: The Infancy Narrative in Italian Renaissance Painting demonstrates just how much those two disciplines have to say to one another today. Through their close readings of famous paintings illustrating stories from Luke, the authors ask: How did Renaissance artists and their patrons understand the gospel? And what traditions of faith guided them in translating biblical text and Church tradition into paint? The answers to those questions are unfolded within a rich context of meaning, that provides a unique access to these ageless retellings of the stories of Christ’s infancy—while illuminating the profound heritage of spirituality that Italian Renaissance artists embodied in their work.

About this title

About the Author:

Heidi J. Hornik is Professor of Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art History at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, author of Michele Tosini and the Ghirlandaio Workshop in Cinquecento Florence, co-author with Mikeal Parsons of Illuminating Luke: The Infancy Narrative in Italian Renaissance Painting (vol.1) and The Public Ministry of Christ in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Painting (vol.2) and co-editor of Interpreting Christian Art. Mikeal C. Parsons is Macon Chair and Professor of Religion at Baylor University. In addition to the works co-authored with Heidi J. Hornik, he is the author of (with Martin Culy), A Greek Handbook on the Acts of the Apostles, Body and Character in Luke and Acts, and Luke. Storyteller, Evangelist, and Interpreter.

Review:

"This sophisticated study of textual and visual interpretations of Luke's Gospel by a New Testament scholar and an art historian demonstrates the intricate associations by which the lives of scriptural figures, painters, and contemporary viewers were interwoven to produce meaning. ILLUMINATING LUKE is a model of responsible integration of Scripture, Theology, and Art History, a thoroughly fascinating and illuminating book."—Margaret R. Miles, Emeritus Professor of Historical Theology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley (Margaret R. Miles)

"Here Professors Hornik and Parsons skillfully lead their audience through an encounter with the visual expression — and experience — of the stories of the Christian faith. The visual images that artists produced shaped the understanding of these sacred stories through the centuries, made them vital, and indelibly affected their reception among the genererations of viewers, from every class or walk of life, who saw them. Theologians, historians, and biblical scholars all need to take this work seriously since it opens up a fundamental aspect of Christian faith and life that is too often overlooked — the non-verbal insight of the eye.—Robin Jensen, Vanderbilt University Divinity School. (Robin Jensen)

"This is a sophisticated and well-written interdisciplinary work, all the more unusual because it is the result of close collaboration between specialists in Biblical Studies and Art History. I do not know of any other volume quite like it. Its aim is to interpret selected works of art from the Italian Renaissance that depict scenes from the Lukan infancy narrative as expositions of these scenes in and for the artists’historical context. The result is fascinating—informed readings of both Luke and the four selected paintings. Biblical interpretation and art history are fully integrated, reflecting not just parallel work but dialogue about the relationship between the biblical text and the works of art under consideration. This book will be welcomed, used, and applauded by biblical scholars, art historians, students in both fields,and a wide audience of interested general readers."—R. Alan Culpepper, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University (R. Alan Culpepper)

“This work is a wonderful example of interdisciplinary study at work in the service of biblical interpretation. Hornik, a professor of art history, and Parsons, a professor of religion—both at Baylor University—collaborate in a study of four scenes from Luke’s infancy (the annunciation, visitation, adoration of the shepherds, and the presentation) as interpreted by four Italian Renaissance painters.” –The Bible Today, March/April 2004 (The Bible Today)

“This book can be helpful in exploring the various visual depictions of the Magnificat. It includes detailed data and scholarly endnotes for further research.” –Church & Synagogue Libraries, November/December 2004 (Church and Synagogue Libraries)

“This is a lovely book, beautifully designed and well ordered....the book is a delight. The bibliography and notes are very helpful. The reproductions are faithful, so lovely.... Luke is illumined.” –Theology Today, 1/05

“The biblical work is very competently done by Parsons, the art history by Hornik. Both bring a specialist’s gifts to the part for which each is responsible. This mean the quality is consistently high. Although there are parts of each chapter by the one and parts by the other, the chapters read in a seamless way. The writing is clear, the argument east to follow, the documentation helpful. The artwork is beautifully presented by the Press.” –Interpretation, April 2005 (Interpretation)

"Illuminating Luke is amply illustrated, with colour reproductions of the four main works, and thirty-five supplementary black and white figures. While the book would be most meaningful to those with some background and interest in art history, extensive footnotes refer readers to more detailed sources and explain many of citations. There is a selected bibliography and a detailed index. While the works discussed in Illuminating Luke were shaped by the specific context of the Italian Renaissance, a study of this type serves as a broader reminder to pastors, students and general readers of the way in which the arts can contribute to the development and understanding of the Christian faith, especially in our modern visually-oriented culture." - Diane E. Peters, Consensus

(Consensus Journal)

"It is certainly accessible, and should appeal to an interested general reader."
R. N. Swanson, University of Birmingham, Heythrop Journal (Heythrop Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1563384051
• ISBN 13: 9781563384059
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176