ILLUMINATING LUKE: The Infancy Narrative in Italian Renaissance Painting

Hornik, a professor of religion, and Parsons, an art historian, team up to offer this study of Italian Renaissance depictions of Jesus' birth and childhood as told in the Gospel of Luke. The authors provide an overview of "visual exegesis" (finding meaning in image as well as text) before focusing on four key paintings: da Vinci's Annunciation; Pontormo's Visitation; Ghirlandaio's Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds; and Lorenzetti's Presentation in the Temple. This is a studious work whose language can be heavy and academic, but fellow scholars and serious students of art will appreciate its keen insights into these four paintings. (Nov.)