No comments about The Prayer Book of Charles the Bold: A Study of a Flemish Masterpiece from the Burgundian Court (Getty Distribution).

No comments about Byzantine Iconography: Elements Of Style And Modern Icon Painting Techniques.

No comments about The New Testament: Through 100 Masterpieces of Art.

5 comments about The Mystic Spiral: Journey of the Soul (Art & Imagination).

1. This book is an in-depth contemplation of the significance of the spiral. It is demonstrated that the spiral in its several forms has been a universal cosmic symbol from earliest human history. Indeed, this book traces the history of its use from stone age cultures, Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Greco Roman world, Islam, India, China, the Jewish world, the Celts, Medieval Europe, the Americas, etc., etc, etc. The reoccurrence of spiral forms in nature, and hence science, is also examined.

   The spiral is shown in its various forms and interpretations. This includes the evolutionary spiral (constant upward advancement through repeating cycles- reaching the same point, but at a higher level of attainment every time.) It can also be seen as the inward spiral of the hero's journey to the center where the great secret or gift lies. It can as well be the double spiral of descent, rebirth, and upward climb. It can also be the spherical spiral of expansion and contraction, or the never-ending vortex ring which periodical passes through it's own center. All variations and their deeper metaphorical meanings are examined- for it is assumed that the cycles of the spiral in nature, or human life, are microcosmic resonances of the great cosmic cycles and rhythms.

   Yet, it is also shown that at the center of the spiral must lay a straight upward path, a "short cut." This is the Axis Mundi, the World Tree that leads directly to the highest planes, the ultimate Source. This is the path of illumination of the mystic, the shaman.

   The layout of this book is that approximately the first third is an in-depth essay on the significance of the spiral, while the remaining two thirds are excellent color and black and write illustrations (with detailed descriptions and explanations.)




2. This is the unknown guide I hoped to find, as I searched, looking high and low, in libraries and bookstores. The spiral is partly something visual, and I wanted a book that would understand that and teach both in words and in pictures. The numerous illustrations (100+ pages) in THE MYSTIC SPIRAL are presented on large glossy paper, almost all in color, and are fantastic. The writing in the introduction and long captions, is essentialized, what I believe the author distilled after years of research. Yet it is so provocative!-- it opens the mind's eye to leap into exceedingly refreshing ideas. Here is the opening 2-sentence paragraph...

   "In a second, the faintest perfume may send us plummeting to the roots of our being, our whole life verticalized by a fleeting sensation: we have been connected by a mere smell to another place and another time. The amount we have changed in the recognition of this moment -- this is the spiral: the path we have followed to reach the same point on another winding."

   If you never read the rest of the book, you can contemplate this one statement and open a window into the mystery of labyrinths, seashells, whirlpools, our own galaxy, or the whole "breathing cosmos." But the entire 24-page introduction is equally profound. The idea is to take each meditation and deepen into it with much contemplation on your own, especially with the help of the art historical illustrations. A thousand times thank you to Jill Purce for leaving this enchanting, delightful marker on the path for others to contemplate and to follow.




3. I had had the impression this book would have more text addressing the spiral and its spiritual symbolism, with illustrations throughout. Instead, the book had a brief 30 page introduction with page after page of various artworks that feature a spiral somewhere in their design. I found the pictures to be poorly notated and wished that each photo had a more in-depth discussion to accompany it.



4. THE MYSTIC SPIRAL packs a staggering amount of essential information in a handsome, reader-friendly, and hugely enjoyable book. The main text (page 7 - 31) embraces all strains of mysticism, Eastern, Western, and everything in between, with scholarly exactness but also lyrical charm. Its density prompts (welcome) re-readings. The illustrations are exceptionally well chosen, and transporting. The reader, certainly this reader, comes away wishing for more. I am happy to see that an integrative book is being planned. Possibly, no theme is more consequential to us bipeds on the earthly tariqa than the one of the Spiral.



5. "The "Mystic Spiral" is the clearest expression I have ever come across of the system I have glimpsed in the intuitive flashes my poems are composed of. The bones of the universe, one potent sunbird structure. Ms. Purce is the magic maiden with the skeleton key that opens a myriad of doors." George Andrews - Poet and author.

   "Jill Purce's book is extraordinary, it shows the spiral going through all the manifestations of life- art, music, literature, dance, religion, mythology, physics, biology, botany and astronomy. Everything is spiral. She points to the unity of the cosmos, and acts as a counterbalance to the atomization of the world. There are hundreds of wonderful illustrations. She gives you the key - like the thread of Ariadne which leads you out of the labyrinth." Karlheinz Stockhausen

   "A brilliant and beautiful book...superbly written, stunningly illustrated and extremely illuminating." Michael Sayers.

   "I deeply appreciate, this marvellous book, "The Mystic Spiral". It seems to me that this book- and indeed the whole series "Art and Imagination" of which Jill Purce is the General Editor - heralds the consolidation of a new philosophy of life in which art takes its place as an essential guide to, and expression of, our development -if the world is to continue to live." Peter Redgrove - Author of "Wise Wound".

   Mere words can not do justice to the beauty of this book. Elegant, graceful, profound, these spirals embody such concepts as eternity, evolution, birth and death, expansion and contraction, the Tao, and God." Stanley Krippner in "Association for Humanistic Psychology Newsletter".

   "The Mystic spiral, together with its spiritual message, has much to tell us architects of the laws of growth and its archetypal forms. This would help us design buildings which are within the flow of nature rather than in opposition to it." Professor of Architecture, Birmingham School of Architecture.

   "Jill Purce"s The Mystic Spiral is thoughts I have thought and is the most thought-furthering / interesting work I have read for a very long time." Dean Melles - Hacks, Singapore.   "I found the Mystic Spiral one of the most absorbingly fascinating books I have ever laid hands on." Lionel Miskin - Professor of Art, Falmouth School of Art.

   "Her book, The Mystic Spiral and the BBC film of the same have enlisted not so much my imagination as my heart. I count myself a genuine admirer of her work. Jill Purce is an alchemist, the first I have noticed in this age." Sebastian Barker - Author of "Guarding the Border".

   "Purce's prose has the ultimate effect of poetry." Chellis Glendinnng in "Codex Shambhala" Vol. 4 No.2.

   "It is bridging the gap, the irreconcilable chasm between Science and Religion- "reason" and "feeling" which Ms. Purce has dexterously pursued by way of "The Mystic Spiral"- The spiral is both a universal mythological symbol as well as an empirical picture of the most fundamental ordering of matter and energy. In "The Mystic Spiral" Jill Purce has excelled in the dovetailing together of rational and mythological language and ideas, and by so doing she illustrates how the spiral is an archetypal symbol which reverberates, unaltered, between the extremes of empirical science and spiritual growth. Her juxtaposition of images as well as her well-chosen words unite the disparate threads of our experience into a single, self-perpetuating, spiral expression." Dr Lawrence Blair. Author of "Rhythms of Vision".

2 comments about Drama, Skits, & Sketches 2.

1. Though I have not been through this book in depth, I had a hard time finding something that was not too preach-y, and with interpretive and doctrinal spins of the author. I will have to spend quite a bit of time adjusting material for a more open view. The scripts give start points to do this, though. Those with similar interpretations and doctrines will likely not have issues with this material. I notice the high schoolers I work with dislike being characterized as teens, in which adults develop material to speak to them on their ground, but frequently miss it. This book seems to do just that in many places.



2. This book has many wonderful skits and sketches for youth to use in youth group. Most of them are funny and will keep your youth intersted. The skits are a good length, most are between 5 to 7 minutes long and deal with a good number of youth issues. I particularly like the one entitled "Bible Broadway." This skit takes some Broadway tunes and gives them a spiritual message!

4 comments about Goddesses of the Celestial Gallery.

1. In this case size doesnt matter, there is none of the range or diversity of the first version....not much variation.
   
   Assuming you make it through to the end without being TARA-fried!!!!..you will find the size and color ends up being themes of Tara in what amounts to redundant tantric victorian wallpaper.
   
   It leaves the realm of art and takes on a Buddhism gone Peter Max type of pop commercialism..... oh look another swirly over stylized Tara.
   
   This must have been a very rushed commercial decision as we know the exceptional skill range of the artist involved.
   
   Page after page of stylized designs...and not enough range or coverage of the complete pantheon .....a few gratuitous goddess tossed in, but none of the exceptional diversity of the first in this series.
   
   Color quality has a waxy look so dont really know if this is a pure digital ink printing process....can have an almost over saturated waxy color at times.
   
   If on the other hand Tara is your girl, then these will provide you with an endless supply of Taramate of the month glossy pinups....just a tad too slick leaving the realm of religion and entering the domain of victoriam tea room wallpaper. It almost has a calculated contrived aesthetic based on formula art and design.
   
   Only two steps away from using paisley step and repeat patterns.
   
   I am sure there will be an enormous amount of people who will love the huge size and over the top color.....so for that group it is a great book you wont be disappointed if you are a pop Buddhist.
   
   I would not have misused a great artist this way.
   
   But lets keep going as the great art skill is there and the concept is great.
   
   So lets try this next time:
   
   1) Do the complete Tibetan book of the Dead, all stages, all days, and focus more on the vast range of deities and not so much on ornamental stylization. Cut the size in half but increase the range, number, and diverstiy of images.
   
   2) Tackle the complexity of the variation of zoomorphic deities in the Heruka late stages....communicate the energy of the theme not the cliche of tha artistic style.
   
   3) Tone down the splash color and pick up more details and compositional variation.
   
   4) Follow that up with the Kalachakra but break that down to the deities and symbols at all the layers.....and take a walk through the cemetaries.
   
   The first book was great, this book is just too narrow and redundant.and over commercially stylized.
   
   The first book seemed a more authentic attempt....
   
   Actually my criticism is complimentary, I know there is greatness here....I think things like the book of the dead would push this into an area of a broader range of creativity.



2. Beautiful book more than two feet tall! The pages can be detached for posters, although the opposite page has wonderful information about each Goddess.
   
   This book is the same as ISBN 1932771972, although the cover art is a slightly different picture of White Tara. The version 1932771972 has 12 large, full-color Goddess cards included.



3. I am really disappointed to see the poor edition of this book the images are not complete and they cut the buddhas over the head of the Goddesses, I have bought Celestial Gallery before and thought "Goddesses" will be of the same quality but it is very far from it.
   The editors must take care that all the paintings' details appear correctly.



4. it is an art piece that inspires, open our vision toward another dimension. It invites us to feel the Beauty within and around us..

2 comments about Abbot Suger on the Abbey Church of St. Denis and Its Art Treasures.

1. "This was precisely...what St. Bernard had thundered against...
   No figure painting or sculpture...,gems, pearls, gold and silk were forbidden...
   Suger, however, was frankly in love with splendor and beauty in every
   conceivable form."
   [On the Abbey Church of St. Denis]
   One of the few early accounts on the gothic cathedral building. Introduction itself is worth the money. Mr. Panofsky is explaining political, social and personal influences that together with Suger's psychological traits led to the construction of what is supposed to be the first Gothic catedral - St. Denis. The keyword here is "influences" - do not expect to learn the construction process or anything of that kind. Account itself does not contains many construction details, but deserves your attention indeed. Kind regards, Mario.



2. This is an OPUS MAGNUS of profound erudition! An indispensable must have for any student of Gothic Art & Architecture. From sheathed shafts thrusting upwards penetrating groin vaults to the most scholarly look nto this seminal figure in the Middle Ages, this text has it all! While certainly not a light read, it is a and important and pivotal work in the scholarship of the beginning of the Gothic era. It should be more readily available.

1 comments about Angelic Mistakes: The Art of Thomas Merton.

1. Angelic Mistakes: The Art Of Thomas Merton by Roger Lipsey is a descriptive collection and history of works of art created by the mind and hand of Catholic theologian and hermit-monk Thomas Merton during the last decade of his life and which until now has remained largely unknown to the general public. Providing readers with a compendium of Merton's work with each piece being accompanied by an extensive caption, Angelic Mistakes is a "must" for anyone who has read and appreciated Merton's writings, as well as a choice selection as a church, seminary, and academic library "Memorial Fund" acquisition.

4 comments about The Forbidden Image: An Intellectual History of Iconoclasm.

1. Besançon, director of studies at L'École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris, is a leading expert in Russian politics and intellectual history. While not a theologian, nor a historian of dogma (he makes a few mistakes here), Besançon's analysis of the norms guiding the representation of the divine within the Hellenic, Roman, Jewish, Early Christian, early and late medieval eras as well as the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and a bit of the modern era, are quite thorough. ALthough he paints with broad strokes, there are plenty of details to keep the expert busy.
   
   Besançon discusses in detail the notion from Plato that we are drawn to contemplate God in image, but yet there is no image that can depict the divine. This is the classical apophatic and cataphatic paradox within which the truth of Christianity, and many other religions, exist.
   
   As to the rest of his themes, I can only say that I am most familar with the Hellenic and Eastern Christian philosophies of art, and in this the author is generally aquanted, but not so expert as I would have thought at first glance. Read Quenot's book on Eastern Christian icons or those of Vladimir Lossky for a more substantial assessment and explination.
   
   
   



2. You definitely can't tell this book by its cover. Not only are the title and the cover's synopsis very misleading, but the picture you see on the front of the book has nothing to do with the book's subject matter.

   I bought this book because it was recommended by The Economist in a book review when it was first released. It appeared to be an interesting discussion about how different religions have accepted or rejected images that were memorialized in print. In light of the Taliban's destruction of the Buddha statues, I was especially interested in this topic to enlighten me about how various cultures have viewed the representation of God, gods, people, animals, landscapes, etc. The Economist review and the book's cover led me to believe that this book would enlighten me in that regard. It didn't.

   Be forewarned that this book is almost entirely about religious images and Christianity. There is some discussion in the beginning of the book about images of gods in ancient times (and what Plato and Aristotle thought about them), but most of the book is about the iconoclastic and iconophilic schools of Christian theology. (The discussion about iconoclasm in Judaism and Islam is limited to a few pages.) Hence, I would characterize this book under the heading philosophy, not art.

   My only other comment pertains to the writing. Keep in mind that Besancon wrote this book in French, so you are reading a translation. I don't know if it's because of the writing in the original, the translation or the subject matter, but this is a very dry read. I will confess that I keep the book on the bedside table to provide soporific assistance. Calling itself an "Intellectual History" does not, to me, give a book license to be painfully boring.

   While there are some interesting passages (such as the discussion about the Trinity in Christianity, which was helpful in explaining the concept of the Holy Spirit), I rate this book as two stars. I do this primarily because it was not what it purported to be. It would have been more aptly entitled, "The Depiction of the Divine in Christian Theology." And the cover picture should have been from a painting of a crucified Jesus. But then again, that probably wouldn't sell as many copies.




3. Forbidden Image is a college-level intellectual history of iconoclasm which examines who the representation of the divine came to be a philosophical issue, with the idea of 'graven images' receiving different interpretation by different religions. Philosophy and theology blend in a comprehensive examination of how the status of the image has changed over the centuries.



4. This is a thorough and entertaining history of the critical fortunes of religious imagery. The author tells the long controversial story of the many debates surrounding the worship of images of gods and other notables in Western culture. Starting with the proscription against the Golden Calf and the Hebraic and Islamic laws against the 'graven image," Besancon tracks the history of this debate through Greek and Roman culture, the various phases of early and medieval Christianity, including the ways in with the Eastern and Roman Catholic churches have dealt differently with the problem. Besancon then tracks the status of the religious image through the Renaissance, and how it was perceived by Enlightenment philosophers. He ends with a discussion of how art came to be perceived in religious terms and how the artist came to be perceived as a kind of romantic god starting in the late nineteenth century. He ends with a discussion of the tense relationship between modernism and spirituality, dealing with the art of Kandinsky, Mondrian, and others.

   The book is a little strange: one is always aware that Besancon has his own view of things--but it is a highly learned, far-ranging and charming view. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Visions of Mary.

1. I cannot thank the author and amazon enough for getting this book to me...it is a holy treasure I look at each day...the art is exquisite and brings one closer to the Mother of God.



2. I am not Catholic, but became interested in Mary after observing in society, and within my own heart, a longing for the divine feminine. The vivid accounts of her visitations around the world and the beautiful artwork are both fascinating and comforting. This gorgeous volume is a feast for the eyes as well as the soul.



3. She is the Mary of Jesus as well as she is everyone's Mary. See her here in all colors and incarnations.



4. Finally, a lovely and loving book about the numerous apparitions of the Virgin Mary over the past several centuries. This volume will be a welcome addition to the library of any Marian devoté, as well as an informative primer to those unfamiliar (or misinformed) about the nature and varieties of both the apparitions themselves, as well as those who experienced them. The authors also show how the visions continue to be of interest and value to modern-day persons. An excellent selection of photos of many home-made shrines is included, demonstrating how the Virgin Mary attracts even the most lowly. What most of the shrines lack in artistry, they more than make up for in charm. Another nice addition is the variety of cultures depicted. Even though I am a very well-read Catholic, there were several apparitions that I had never heard of. I really enjoyed this book. I only wish it were longer and more comprehensive.



5. In their new book Visions of Mary (Harry N. Abrams, December, 2004, hardcover, 144 pages) authors Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua have collaborated to present a stunning look at the image of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Moving beyond the trite "coffee-table art" approach, DiPasqua and Calamari share an eclectic and broad ranging composition of pictures, ranging from statues of her international apparitions to simple home shrines. As a compliment to the outstanding photography and artwork that fill its pages, Visions of Mary includes comprehensive reference material written in an engaging style.