The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture

Excellent book and a great seller.

Excellent condition..........thank you.

I have used the first edition of this book for a number of years of art history study with the OU: it has been immensely useful in sorting out specific queries and is an interesting browse for those interested in art history and/or Christianity. I was keen to see the new edition.Certainly, this is an attractively printed and bound book. A definite improvement over its predecessor is in the size of the font and the clarity of its layout, much easier to read for ageing eyes. No one interested in this area would be disappointed by the new edition which at least covers the same field as the older book and with some additions. Except, of course, there are no illustrations, or diagrams: odd, even extraordinary in a book about art and architecture!The preface assures the reader that everything has been updated and expanded, particularly in relation to a wider area of geographical inclusiveness and more contemporary coverage. I'm sure that this is so, but I have to say that in spending some time with the two volumes side by side, I could spot only two textual differences in the inevitably restricted areas I explored: the presence of 'primitivism' as a new entry and the shifting of 'abacus' from the old architectural glossary to the main body, a very sensible change. The bibliography has been extended, we are reassured, but that is now online and not within this book. (Why not in both forms?)Unfortunately, the new editon is also completely devoid of illustrations, something which I find both surprising and disappointing: inevitably, size constraints inhibit using too much visual material, but I would willingly sacrifice the new font size for the number and range of illustrations included in the earlier volume. And I can't help thinking that the increase in the number of pages in the 'expanded' edition is at least to some extent due to the font size rather than significant textual expansion. (The old entry for the letter 'Z', for example is given 2 1/3 pages including a 3/4 page illustration of a Zurburan painting: the new 'Z' is 2 1/4pp! The text is identical!)Speaking purely for myself, I would purchase this only after seeking out second hand options of the earlier edition: they can easily be purchased on this site in both hard and paperback formats. If you already have the first edition, I certainly would not buy the newer version: it might rest your eyes, but I doubt it will significantly increase your enlightenment. Of course, if the earlier edition is unavailable, then there is much to recommend in this incarnation: it certainly won't disappoint, except for the absence of pictures, and will provide a valuable source of upto date information!

This is an elegant, and some and will produce a new edition of an established reference text that will be invaluable to students of art history, all the general reader. Anyone with an interest in Christian Art and architecture, perhaps decoding/ reading the local church, all in the general visual representation of this major faith will find something rewarding in this book. There is a systematic classification of visual imagery and figurative symbolism that is easy to access and authoritative. I tested the book with its entry for Golgotha, and quickly found a reference to the visual representation of Adam's skull, which was believed to symbolise Christ's redemption of the sins of Adam and Eve by the irony of his crucifixion on Adam's grave-please excuse my clumsy summary as this isn't my subject! The entry was authoritative, detailed, and gave plenty of cross-references and connections for further reading.Downsides are the lack of illustrations which do seem odd in a book of this nature, but would probably make the cost prohibitive. While it's a handsome read and a good addition to your reference bookshelf, there is perhaps a tinge of sadness is that can't be many more editions of books like this before electronic media take over. Recommended.

Even if ,like myself, you already own the first edition of Peter and Linda Murray's dictionary, this new edition based on the earlier work but which now features entries beyond Europe would be an outstanding addition to your book shelf . In the fortnight since it arrived not a day has gone by without my dipping into it and enjoying learning something new about Art. This is not a traditional dictionary with very short explanations of the meaning of a word or a very brief biography of an artist; the entries are very detailed and give a scholarly but straightforward explanation on anything at all an art lover might want to learn about, or refresh their memory on, Christian art and architecture.. I particularly enjoyed reading the entry `Rome, Early Christian and Medieval', which given it runs to several pages, goes beyond a mere dictionary entry and offers a mini history on the topic. There are many such extended entries on such subjects ranging from `Christian art of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific'; `Landscape'; `Romanesque art and Architecture' to Twentieth and Twenty-first Century Church architecture' all of which are informative and interesting. I believe this dictionary would hold as much interest for a professional art historian as a complete novice and I cannot recommend it too highly. fjs.

This excellent volume brings together in one volume a marvelous cross section of religious and artistic information. With entries covering saints, artists, symbolism, artistic movements and religious events, this is a most useful guide for anyone with an interest in Religious art and architecture. I found this book an excellent guide when studying early renaissance paintings, where the appearance on the canvas of a bird or particular flower or shrub can be decipherable by a quick dip into the appropriate entry.This new edition also includes useful web links for those who wish to delve further. Highly recommended.