Christian Art

Abstract

Christian Art: A Very Short Introduction explores the work of major artists such as Memling, Holbein, El Greco, and Rossetti, and well-known examples including the frescoes of St Francis at Assisi. How do didactic and consciously devotional works compare with the controversial work of contemporary artists such as Andres Serrano and Chris Ofili? Christian images have a long history within the Western art tradition, from the narrative and devotional works of the Medieval and Renaissance periods, to the radical new interpretations of the twenty-first century. Over the centuries the nature of the representation of key themes and subjects found in Christian art such as the Eucharist, the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary, and the saints has changed considerably.