The Art of the Kariye Camii - Softcover

Ousterhout, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1857592492 ISBN 13: 9781857592498

Publisher: Scala Books, 2002

Synopsis

A touchstone of Byzantine artistic achievement, the church now known as the Kariye Camii in Istanbul preserves impressive cycles of mosaic and fresco, for which it is justifiably famous. Once the heart of the Chora Monastery, the building was reconstructed around 1316-21, under the patronage of the Byzantine statesman and scholar Theodore Metochites. Besides its painting and mosaic decoration, the building itself is well-preserved. Enveloped by narthexes, a burial chapel and other additions, and topped by an array of domes, the Kariye Camii stands at the forefront of Late Byzantine architectural developments. This illustrated guide chronicles the building's history and provides a scene-by-scene guide to its spectacular decoration. As the author insists, the art of the Kariye Camii 'is as sophisticated and erudite as a contemporary work of Byzantine literature, structured like a vast epic poem'.

About this title

About the Author:

A specialist in Byzantine art and architecture, Robert Ousterhout is Professor of Architectural History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His previous books include The Architecture of the Kariye Camii in Istanbul (1987) and Master Builders of Byzantium (1999).

About this edition

• Publisher: Scala Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1857592492
• ISBN 13: 9781857592498
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128