Paint/fresco

The Woman Clothed in the Sun is menaced by the Great Dragon of the Apocalypse, Fresco, Abbaye St. Savin sur Gartempe, Chauvigny, France, 1090-1100 “And that dragon was cast down, the great old serpent, that is called the Devil, and Satan, that deceiveth all the world; he was cast down into the earth, and his angels were sent with him.” Revelation 12:9 Wycliffe Bible, circa 1380 (modern English translation) Even though a dragon is a fantastical creature, a modern person will

13th c. capital of a sinner being devoured, Saint Pierre, Chauvigny, France A nasty case of Covid pretty much bankrupted my energy for...

Some art seems to have a life of its own, its own vitality and presence which can make it seem like a character in its own right. The...

Caves evoke mystery to a modern person. We're so used to having all the light we want, wherever and whenever we go. Our interiors are...

Baptism changed both in its practice and its artistic representation from its introduction in the Gospels to its depictions across...

Jews were expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492; all synagogues were shut down and repurposed. Two medieval synagogue buildings...

The mostly 13th century palace is a studied combination of science, statecraft, and mysticism. The Alhambra began its life on the ruins...

Here, I continue to point out some features of church architecture, generally before 1100. Please see Part 1 post for more on this...