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

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.

"Ever wonder how religion and art became forces of imagination on our night skies? Or how the night skies became forces of imagination on our religion and art? In this brilliant study of constellations and culture, Michael Mendillo, professor of astronomy at Boston University, reveals that the canopy of stars has been an ideologically contested space from the beginning, ensuring that the next time you look up, the sky will look completely different to you."- Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History

"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

Auteur

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).

Texte du rabat

"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

Contenu

PREFACE

PART ONE: ARTISTIC ASTRONOMY AND RELIGIOUS ICONOGRAPHY

Prologue

Chapter I. Astronomical Constellations and How to Portray Them

Chapter II. New Players, New Roles

Chapter III. The Schiller Enterprise

Chapter IV. The Christianized Zodiac of the Northern Hemisphere

Chapter V. The Christianized Zodiac of the Southern Hemisphere

Chapter VI Responses --- Theological and Astronomical PART TWO: ASTRONOMY IN CHRISTIAN ART

Prologue

Chapter VII. Constellations of the Pagans in Christian Art

Chapter VIII. Beyond Constellations: Astronomical Components in Religious Art

PART THREE: CONSTELLATIIONS IN SECULAR ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Prologue

Chapter IX. Rubens and Astronomy

Chapter X. Astronomy-Art Connections in Multi-Media

Chapter XI. Constellations as Decorative Architecture

Chapter XII. Modern Art and the Many Themes of Constellations

Chapter XIII. Astronomical Stars of Modern Art

Epilogue

Sources and References

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER SPECIFICS

Chapter I. Astronomical Constellations and How to Portray Them

Scope and Scale

Focus on the Constellations

The First Depictions of Constellations

Reformations in Religion and Science-and the art to visualize them.

Star Pictures from Earth

The View from Another Planet

Constellations Evolve

The Amazing Number Twelve The Origins and Evolution of Celestial Atlases: Secular to Religious

• The Farnese Globe

• Printed Star Maps

• Demise of the Artistic Celestial Atlas

• The Line-and-Dot Constellations.

Chapter II. New Players, New Roles

Allesandro Piccolomini

Johannes Bayer

Julius Schiller

Father Drexel, S. J.

Andreas Cellarius

Chapter III. The Schiller Enterprise

-Pagans and Prophets, Beasts and Bullies, Saints and Sinners.

-Options for Introducing a New Celestial Atlas

-Endorsements and Publicity

-Schiller Tells His Story

-But What Did the Apostles Look Like?

-The Grand and Glorious Plan for a Starry Christian Heaven.

Chapter IV. The Christianized Zodiac of the Northern Hemisphere

Chapter V. The Christianized Zodiac of the Southern Hemisphere Chapter VI. Responses --- Theological and Astronomical

Counter-Iconoclasts: The Destruction of Images-Terrestrial and Celestial

Counter-Art: Luther's position on the styles of religious art

Counter-Clergy

Counter-Science

The Rise of the New Astronomy

What was Schiller's View on Science?

A Decidedly Narrow Scope

The Reaction of Astronomers: Johannes Hevelius Speaks for the Professionals

PART TWO: ASTRONOMY IN CHRISTIAN ART

Prologue

Chapter VII. Pagan Constellations in Christian Art

Illuminated Manuscripts

Constantine's Dream-A Celestial Globe in the Sky

Impact of Galileo's New Astronomy upon Religious Art

Jesus and the Celestial Sphere: A Mosaic for the Russian Orthodox Cathedral

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