The Illustrated Jesus through the Centuries by Jaroslav Pelikan
R. Kevin Seasoltz
BOOK REVIEWS General and Miscellaneous The IllustratedJesus through the Centuries. By Jaroslav Pelikan. (New Haven: Yale University Press. 1997. Pp. x, 254. $35.00.) Pelikan, Sterling Professor of History Emeritus atYale University, needs no introduction to readers this journal. HisJesus Centuries :His Place in ofCulture,published byYale Press 1985, attained a circulation more than 100,000 copies translations dozen languages. That book, which brought together author's William Clyde De Vane Lectures at Yale, complements his earlier five-volume work on Christian Tradition, describes history significance person ofJesus Christ for faith teaching Church. Jesus delineates place general culture. It comprises eighteen chapters beginning with first-century images as rabbi continues such representations king kings, bridegroom soul, prince peace, teacher common sense, poet spirit. Recent centuries have interpreted liberator; hence message has extended beyond Christendom , so he is seen also man who belongs whole world. Because gracious response Centuries, Pelikan acceded publisher's wish that prepare an illustrated edition. result strikingly beautiful accessible book over two hundred illustrations most ofthem color. original text been judiciously shortened will turn first edition identification documentation quotations, additional readings, complete exposition, but handsome serve rich complement written show how picture can fact mean thousand words. are drawn from roadside crosses Anglo-Saxon Northumbria Carolingian miniatures Renaissance masters. They make one wonder whether theologians not too exclusively text-bound neglected important role arts played development tradition. Accompanied by lively commentary, range familiarWestern works, Fra Angélico's "Madonna Child" Warner Sallman's "Head Christ" derived Eastern tradi518 REVIEWS519 tion -works Chinese, black American, Australian aboriginal, Native other artists. There reproductions Marc Chagall's "Yellow Crucifixion," Edvard Munch's "Golgotha," Johnson's "Mount Calvary," Caravaggio's "Supper Emmaus," Horace Peppin's "The Crucifixion.'' wide-ranging styles, appealing people all ages, social backgrounds, religious persuasions, educational levels. unfortunate accompanied clear identifications; credits back information . Like lectures based were intended audience representing both town gown, beckons believers skeptics alike. shows, Pelikan's own words, "Jesus far figure be left only theologian church." dedicated Benedictines Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota,"nihil amori Christi praeponere." R. Kevin Seasoltz, O.S.B. SaintJohn'sAbbey Minnesota Tradition & Diversity: Christianity World Context 1500. Karen Louise Jolly. [Sources Studies History.] (Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe. xiv, 569. $64.95 cloth; $28.95 paper.) For number reasons, welcome new anthology sources First all, some best ancient medieval published past half-century now out print. (One thinks, example, volume Ray Petry's A ofChristianity:Readings ofthe Church [Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1962; repr. 1981, 1988].) But even if anthologies still print, there reason...
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