Catholica

The Visual Culture of Catholicism

Suzanna Ivanic

$49.99

Hardback

In stock
Ready to ship

QTY:

English

Thames & Hudson
07 April 2022

Religion & beliefs; Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church

A clear, concise and detailed analysis of the eclectic and beautiful visual and material culture of Catholicism.

Focusing on a carefully curated selection of Catholic art and artefacts, this book explains the meaning of the iconography and the mystic power of the faith's ritual objects. A wealth of often hidden symbols are identified and examined close up, building into a catalogue of key visual symbols for readers to use to interpret all Catholic visual and material culture.

The book is organized into three parts - Tenet, Locus and Spiritus - each containing three themed chapters. The first part introduces the centrepieces of the faith, explaining the symbolism in the artistic representation of the holy family, apostles and saints, and in stories from scripture. The second part examines places of worship, identifying the constituent parts of the cathedral and presenting evocative images of roadside shrines. The third part explores celebrations and traditions, including personal devotional tools and jewelry.

For each of the nine themed chapters, illustrated introductory text is followed by a spread-by-spread presentation of the key figures, the key stories and the key iconography relevant to each theme. Paintings and artefacts are examined in detail, identifying and explaining the symbolism and the stories depicted in each. As the book progresses, readers will build up knowledge of the entire Catholic visual code - the symbols that define Catholic practice, the attributes of the saints, the parts of the cathedral - allowing them to interpret Catholic imagery and objects wherever they find them and to understand the tenets, sites and rituals of the faith.

By: Suzanna Ivanic
Imprint: Thames & Hudson
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 240mm, Width: 170mm,
Weight: 880g
ISBN: 9780500252543
ISBN 10: 0500252548
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 07 April 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Suzanna Ivanic is lecturer in early modern European history at the University of Kent. Her research focuses on religion, material and visual culture, and travel in Central Europe. Recent and forthcoming publications include chapters on amulets, religious objects and religion in the domestic sphere, and articles on pilgrimage travelogue in the early modern world. She has recently completed a monograph entitled The Materiality of Belief: The Spiritual World of Early Modern Prague.

Reviews for Catholica: The Visual Culture of Catholicism

"A succinct primer with good design... A solid introduction to the various ways that Christian, and specifically Catholic, ideas are intertwined with much European art history and material culture... After exploring this book's thorough yet accessible analysis, readers will be empowered to recognize saints and episodes from the Bible without needing to rely on the wall text.-- ""Hyperallergic (One of Hyperallergic's Best Art Books of 2022)"" Expertly distill[s] two millennia of Catholic art into one invigorating cultural survey... Particularly engrossing is Ivanic's scrupulous 'decoding' of spiritual symbolism that pervades everything from the intricate flourishes of cathedral facades to street murals and secular paintings... Art connoisseurs will be mesmerized by this sumptuous and superbly written guide.-- ""Publishers Weekly (starred review)"""