From Idols to Icons

The Emergence of Christian Devotional Images in Late Antiquity
1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-0-520-34542-3
Verlag: University of California Press

Buch, Englisch, Band 12, 252 Seiten, Cloth Over Boards, Format (B × H): 187 mm x 261 mm, Gewicht: 865 g

Reihe: Christianity in Late Antiquity

Even the briefest glance at an art museum’s holdings or an introductory history textbook demonstrates the profound influence of Christian images and art. From Idols to Icons tells the fascinating history of the dramatic shift in Christian attitudes toward sacred images from the third through the early seventh century. From attacks on the cult images of polytheism to the emergence of Christian narrative iconography to the appearance of portrait-type representations of holy figures, this book examines the primary theological critiques and defenses of holy images in light of the surviving material evidence for early Christian visual art. Against the previous assumption that fourth- and fifth-century Christians simply forgot or ignored their predecessors’ censure and reverted to more alluring pagan practices, Robin M. Jensen contends that each stage of this profound change was uniquely Christian. Through a careful consideration of the cults of saints’ remains, devotional portraits, and pilgrimages to sacred sites, Jensen shows how the Christian devotion to holy images came to be rooted in their evolving conviction that the divine was accessible in and through visible objects.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jensen, Robin M.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Praktische Theologie Liturgik, Christliche Anbetung, Sakramente, Rituale, Feiertage
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christentum/Christliche Theologie Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Kunst Künstlerische Stoffe, Motive, Themen Künstlerische Stoffe, Motive, Themen: Religiöse Themen
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Gottesdienst, Riten und Zeremonien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

List of Illustrations 
Acknowledgments 
Preface 

1. Early Christian Condemnation of Idols 
2. Aniconism: In Defense of the Invisible God 
3. Epiphanies: Encountering the Visible God 
4. Early Christian Pictorial Art: From Sacred Narratives to Holy Portraits 
5. Holy Portraits: Controversies and Commendation 
6. The True Likeness 
7. Miraculous and Mediating Portraits 
8. Materiality, Visuality, and Spiritual Insight 

Epilogue: The Idols’ Last Stand 

List of Abbreviations
Notes 
Bibliography
General Index 
Index of Sources

Über Autor(innen)

Robin M. Jensen is Patrick O’Brien Professor of Theology and Fellow at the Medieval Institute and the Nanovic Institute, University of Notre Dame.