Saints and Sinners in the Sky: Astronomy, Religion and Art in Western Culture (eBook)

Michael Mendillo (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2022 | 1st ed. 2022
XIII, 252 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-030-84270-3 (ISBN)

Infos

'A brilliant study of constellations and culture.' - Neil deGrasse Tyson

In this book, Boston University Professor of Astronomy Michael Mendillo takes readers deep into the annals of history, showing how visual depictions of the heavens evolved in tandem with science and religion throughout much of Western culture.

With unprecedented scope and scale, Professor Mendillo explores how cave art, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, paintings and architecture reflected some of the great religious and secular battles taking place over the course of centuries. Enter a world of biblical proportions, where constellations of ancient heroes and pagans were thoroughly recast as Christian saints and the Twelve Apostles.

This nontechnical narrative brings vitality and accessibility to some of the most enduring subjects in human history, offering a lively new exploration of the visual connections between celestial phenomena and artistic expression.

'Saints and Sinners impressionistically reveals the connections of art, astronomy, and religion in Western culture to illuminate the age-old quest for celestial-terrestrial connections.' - Roberta J.M. Olson, author of Giotto's Portrait of Halley's Comet and Cosmos: The Art and Science of the Universe

 'Professor Mendillo's book does a priceless service, opening the doors of our minds to images that will stir us, because the heavens are part of us, and we all long to know how and why.' - Rev. David R. Thom, MIT Chaplain and Convener of the Cambridge Faculty Roundtable on Science, Art & Religion

'Over a lifetime devoted to astronomical research and teaching, Michael Mendillo has indulged a parallel passion for artistic representations of the heavenly bodies. In this sumptuous volume, he explores the projection of our changing belief systems onto the constant stars.' - Dava Sobel, author of Longitude, Galileo's Daughter and The Glass Universe

Michael Mendillo is Professor of Astronomy at Boston University.  His science career deals with research in solar-terrestrial space physics, planetary science, and newly discovered planets orbiting stars in our galaxy.  Professor Mendillo has assembled one of the largest privately-held collections of antiquarian astronomical maps, charts and atlases.  They form the basis of the Celestial Images exhibitions held at many university art galleries, the Smithsonian Institution and the US National Academy of Science.  His teaching of astronomy to non-science majors stresses interdisciplinary topics and their connectivity (science-art-religion-society).

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 4.4.2022
• Reihe/Serie: Popular Astronomy
• Reihe/Serie: Popular Astronomy
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Zusatzinfo: XIII, 252 p. 90 illus., 82 illus. in color.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kunst / Musik / Theater ► Malerei / Plastik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Astronomie / Astrophysik
• Schlagworte: Botticelli celestial fresco • celestial art • celestial atlases • christianized zodiac • christianizing the heavens • constellation architecture • constellations in art • constellations in christianity • constellations in religion • Hevelius translation • religious astronomy • Schiller translation
• ISBN-10: 3-030-84270-3 / 3030842703
• ISBN-13: 978-3-030-84270-3 / 9783030842703