MTU Library Catalogue

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Old Testament figures in art / Chiara de Capoa ; edited by Stefano Zuffi ; translated by Thomas Michael Hartmann.

By: De Capoa, Chiara.
Contributor(s): Zuffi, Stefano, 1961-.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Los Angeles : J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003Description: 351 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 21 cm.ISBN: 0892367458 .Subject(s): Bible. O.T. -- Illustrations | Christian art and symbolismDDC classification: 704.9484
Contents:
From the creation to the Tower of Babel -- Story of Abraham -- Story of Jacob -- From Egypt to the Promised Land -- David and Solomon -- Stories and heroes of the Israelites -- Wise men and prophets.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Crawford College of Art and Design Library Store 704.9484 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00193192
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Throughout the Middle Ages, sacred Christian art had two objectives: to express veneration for God and to provide illustrative lessons on the Christian faith to a largely illiterate population. Continuing in the spirit of the other books in this series, Old Testament Figures in Art compiles entries on key figures and events in the Old Testament, beginning with the Pentateuch, then drawing from the historical books, the books of wisdom and poetry, and, finally, the prophetic books.The vivid illustrations depict Old Testament scenes that occur most frequently as iconographic prototypes in Western art. Among the masterpieces featured are The Entry of the Animals into Noah's Ark by Jan Brueghel the Elder, The Sacrifice of Isaac by Rembrandt, Samson and Delilah by Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel by Paul Gauguin, and Isaac Receiving Rebekah as His Wife by Marc Chagall. The accompanying texts illuminate the unique ways in which Old Testament subjects have been portrayed in Western art throughout the ages. To complement the many scriptural references, this handy volume also offers comparisons with other cultures whose stories or myths parallel those represented in the book.

Includes indexes.

From the creation to the Tower of Babel -- Story of Abraham -- Story of Jacob -- From Egypt to the Promised Land -- David and Solomon -- Stories and heroes of the Israelites -- Wise men and prophets.

Translation of: Episodi e personaggi dell\'Antico Testamento

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Introduction (p. 8)
  • From the Creation to the Tower of Babel (p. 11)
  • The Story of Abraham (p. 75)
  • The Story of Jacob (p. 109)
  • From Egypt to the Promised Land (p. 131)
  • David and Solomon (p. 203)
  • Stories and Heroes of the Israelites (p. 255)
  • Wise Men and Prophets (p. 303)
  • Appendixes
  • The Structure of the Old Testament (p. 346)
  • Index of Episodes (p. 347)
  • Index of Figures (p. 348)
  • Index of Artists (p. 350)
  • Photography Credits (p. 352)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Old Testament Figures in Art is an excellent addition to a long line of guides to figures and symbols in Christian Art, not least of which is George W. Ferguson's Signs and Symbols in Christian Art (1954). By focusing only on Old Testament figures, De Capoa's book is more narrowly constrained than many in this field and is certainly among the best illustrated. Chapters range from broad subjects like "Stories and Heroes of the Israelites" to individuals, including Jacob, David and Solomon, and Abraham. The volume is printed entirely in color, with hundreds of excellent reproductions of works ranging widely in place of origin and era up to the end of the 18th century; very few works date to the 19th or 20th century. Brief narratives introduce the stories surrounding each subject and comment on various features found in the visual representations. Although commentary on the diffusion of the image helps to situate artistic representations of each subject in place and time, readers should not expect much discussion of the change in subject representation over time, nor a contextual analysis of individual works. The volume is intended as a subject reference, not a work of art history. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. General readers; lower- and upper-division undergraduates. L. P. Nelson University of Virginia

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Chiara de Capoa is an art historian specializing in medieval art at the Libera Università di Lingua e Communicazione IULM in Milan.