Editorial Review

Thomas Kinkade paints from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that inspire him and fill him with joy. This authenticity and passion has made him the most collected living artist in the world. Celebrated as the Painter of Light, Thomas Kinkade hopes to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates.

How wonderful it is to relax at home, with a fire aglow and loved ones close by. The warm and inviting scenes in the Thomas Kinkade Special Collectors Edition Hearth and Home 2011 Wall Calendar remind us that we need such a refuge, a place we feel loved just as we are. A personal reflection by Thomas Kinkade brings each full-color image to life. The calendar, packaged in a beautifully printed jacket, includes an individually numbered collector's keepsake card tucked inside a vellum envelope.

Thomas Kinkade 2010 Thomas Kinkade ... Read more

Reviews

Thomas Kinkade, October 11, 2010
I have Thomas Kinkade all over my apartment. Have many of his prints.
I also make pictures out of the calendars. They make a great gift for under $10.00. Never in my life have I been fond of paintings but,
Thomas Kinkade helps m with my christian walk in life, also he is the painter of light. The price on these calendars is exceptial never have I paid so little and have a grat give for myself and 6 of my friends.

Thank You

Calender, November 21, 2010
This is a beautiful calender, purchased as a gift for family member for Christmas and I know they will love getting this one. Would definetly purchase again. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Thomas Kinkade paints from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that inspire him and fill him with joy. This authenticity and passion has made him the most collected living artist in the world. Celebrated as the Painter of Light, Thomas Kinkade hopes to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates.

Waves crashing against a rugged coastline, a quiet mountain stream, fairy-tale cottages in the woods: the splendid paintings in the Thomas Kinkade Painter of Light 2011 Wall Calendar grab hold of the imagination and invite us to celebrate our extraordinary world. Each monthly spread features a full-color image, and the calendar is packaged in a coordinating full-color envelope.

Thomas Kinkade (c) 2010 Thomas Kinkade ... Read more

Reviews

THOMAS KINKADE 2011 CALENDAR, December 1, 2010
This is a beautiful calendar. Every day you walk by and look at the picture of the month on the wall, it gives you a sense of peace and tranquility. You will enjoy this calendar -- buy it!!!

Excellent Condition, November 16, 2010
Calendars were carefully packed in a box
and arrived in EXCELLENT condition.
These calendars are wonderful gifts for
the holiday.

Where is it???, October 25, 2010
How can they ship things so slowly?

It's been 2 weeks since I told them their original product was damaged.

It's been 4 weeks since I placed my original order.

I still don't have the item I ordered.

Where is it?!?!?! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Seeing a reproduction of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on a long spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal meditation that led him to discover the place within where God has chosen to dwell. ... Read more

Reviews

God we need this, October 10, 2000
God's love is unconditional is real that is the message. I loved the book. I would also recommend An Encounter With A Prophet for the same message

Return of the Prodigal Son, May 2, 2000
Henri Nouwen has a way of making us look into the places that we would rather not look. When we are drawn into this study of the Rembrant painting we find a darkness that leads us to an illumination of our own lives. In this book it is with great joy that we discover love and forgiveness as well as hope. This book is a must read for all Christians. In going to the place that I did not want to go I found the place that I needed to go. This is the best spiritual book that I have read in years. I wish we had published this book.

A wonderful book; a simple but profound message, December 6, 2000
What an incredible book. What a simple message, deeply explored and wonderfully exposited.

Henri Nouwen is a master of reflection, study, self-knowledge, and of writing beautiful, profound books. This book is amazing, perhaps life-changing. It has spoken to me in profound and deep ways, and I am deeply thankful for it.

Nouwen's main message, I think, is the unconditional, unfailing, all-surpassing love of the Father, this love that meets all needs easily. He puts himself in the place of the younger son, the older son, and the father, and considers this love - and the things that keep us from fully experiencing it - in all of these places, places that ring universal.

The media of realization here is the parable of course, but also Rembrandt's painting, Return of the Prodigal Son. It is profoundly helpful, fun, and provoking to consider this representation of the story and let it work spiritually in us, as it has in Father Henri. This book has more than opened my heart to the love of my Father, it has given me a new love for art, and a side education on Rembrandt and one of his most famous paintings.

In short, this is another truly rare, truly wonderful book from a modern mystic. Nouwen will be remembered, I hope, alongside Augustine, Lewis, and others I have yet to discover but now believe exist.

A sample:

"Home is the center of my being where I can hear the voice that says: "You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests"-the same voice that gave life to the first Adam and spoke to Jesus, the second Adam; the same voice that speaks to all children of God and sets them free to live in the midst of a dark world while remaining in the light. I have heard that voice. It has spoken to me in the past and continues to speak to me now. It is the never-interrupted voice of love speaking from eternity and giving life and love whenever it is heard. When I hear that voice, I know that I am home with God and have nothing to fear. As the Beloved of my heavenly Father, "I can walk in the valley of darkness: no evil would I fear." As the Beloved, I can confront, console, admonish, and encourage without fear of rejection or need for affirmation. As the Beloved, I can be tortured and killed without ever having to doubt that the love that is given to me is stronger than death. As the Beloved, I am free to live and give life, free also to die while giving life."

If you'd like to discuss this book with me, or recommend others, or just chat, e-mail me at williekrischke@hotmail.com. I'd love to talk with you.

Convicting, inspiring, transforming., May 27, 2001
Fr. Nouwen's book was recommended to me by a counselor whom I was seeing about inability/unwillingness to break free of bitterness and forgive past and present hurts. I believe that Fr. Nouwen's tale of his spiritual progression, from seeing himself only as the "prodigal son;" to recognizing himself as the "elder brother;" and finally to recognizing God's desire that he become "the father" describes the "journey home" to which God's calls all His children: to come to the "place" of being forgiven and reconciled to God; to move on to the "place" of forgiving others based on our security in being loved by God; and finally to provide the "place" in our own hearts into which others may come to experience God's forgiveness and reconciliation.

Had I not read the convincing "portrayal" of this truth by Fr. Nouwen, I would not have believed it. This truth puts a whole new meaning to "being a member of God's household" - to be fully in the Father's house is to be a living extension of the Father's home, which is always welcoming! This is indeed a "high calling," and one that inspires me to strive even harder to cease allowing self-centeredness to hold me back.

Both Homecoming and being at Home, December 27, 2002
The Return of The Prodigal Son is one of those books with a special message that made me want to be a better person. If only it was that easy.

Henri Nouwen used his experiences and feelings surrounding the Rembrandt painting "Return of the Prodigal Son" coupled with time as the father at a group home for the severely handicapped as a back drop for this book. But it is not a book that is about his time at the home, nor it is a book that really reflects that he is a catholic priest. It has a universal message and is based squarely on scripture revolving around the story of the prodigal as well as insights gained from Rembrandt's painting

The pleasant yet challenging surprise of the book is how Nouwen takes the logical path from rebellious son through older brother and landing finally at the role of father and how the Father Himself calls us to become as He is. It is the first time I have read or heard a teaching that moves from the unrelenting love that the father has for the son in the story to the idea that God is calling us not just to accept His love as the younger son does once he realizes how lost he had become, but how God is calling us to become like Him and love the rebellious and lost as He does.

I found it very interesting how Nouwen see parts of Rembrandt's work as being reflections of or symbols of something great and true. These insights made the book more interesting than just a simple bible lesson on an old and familiar story.

Whether you find yourself in a foreign land or just outside the Fathers House, or whether you tend to feel a bit resentful that you're "following all the rules" and yet things just don't seem quite right this book has something important and powerful to say to you. If you are a leader in the church and want to be compelled to try a little harder and move a little closer to being the accepting and loving father that God calls you to be; this book has something for you.

I enjoyed reading this and can highly recommend it.

A beautiful story of God's unconditional love for us., March 12, 1998
This book may very well change the way you view God. Using Rembrandt's masterpiece as a backdrop, Father Nouwen shares some defining moments in his spiritual journey that leads to a much deeper relationship with God. By examining the parable of the Prodigal Son in conjunction with the painting, Nouwen shows us that God's love is unconditional and that it is He who reaches out to us. Finally, we are called to mature from our role as prodigal son or elder son to become the father. I highly recommend this book.

A treasure, March 15, 2000
Much like Father Nouwen stumbling on the painting of the Prodigal Son during his life, I stumbled on find this book about four years ago. Father Nouwen shares the many times in his life were he was the Prodigal son, the older son or the forgiving father. I was able to relate to many if not most of the personal examples shared. My spiritual life grew from the years of reading and rereading this book. This book is a personal favorite to share with friends seeking God's wisdom on the journary. Father Nouwen rest in peace, you have served the world well.

My lifetime epiphany., November 7, 1999
A profoudly meaningful work that gives rich life to one of Rembrandt's greatest works. Every aspect of my relationship with my family and my Lord has been altered through this Nouwen's most touching interpretation of Christ's parable. I could not rest until I had a reprint of this artwork hanging in my office to remind me daily of true grace, forgiveness and love. No heart should be without it!

If you Read Only One Spiritual Book This Year, Read This One, February 9, 2001
This is the best spiritual book I have read in a long time. Henri Nouwen needs no introduction, but this is the best of his works. It's destined to become a spiritual classic of our time. Rembrandt's painting, The Return of the Prodigal Son, has long been meaningful to him, not just because of its own beauty, but also because of Nouwen's alienation from his own father which is resolved in the course of the book. He identifies with, and invites us to do so as well, the younger son who is forgiven the grosser and more obvious sins, and the older son who is forgiven the more hidden and meaner sins, and most of all the father who shows us the infinite compassion and unconditional love of God and who calls us to have that same love and compassion for others. The book is a wonderful marriage of spirituality and art, like Nouwen's earlier book Behold the Beauty of the Lord.

an honest story about faith, May 31, 2002
This book: Nouwen simple faith in a God who loves his runaway childern brings great insight into the life of Grace and being a follower of Christ. A must read for anyone who struggles with pushing too hard to be a "good" Christian. This book delevers to all Christians regardless of background and spiritual walk...Grace and love are the lessons of this text...and a hard one at that...based on the teachings of Christ and Nouwen's meditations of the famous Rembrant painting housed in Russia titled " Return of the Prodigal Son". It is also a good read because it gives us a look at the life of Henri J. M. Nouwen, he eagerly shares his own personal trials and how he has related to the parable of the Prodigal Son. This books is on of my top ten. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Two thousand years ago, a girl from Nazareth was transformed by a simple “yes” into the Mother of God—the subject of sublime devotion, divisive controversy, and extravagant speculation. A mother and a virgin, a saint and a peasant, a woman both tragic and triumphant, Mary has held sway over the human imagination for centuries. Yet she has never felt as relevant to our everyday lives as she does today.
 
In Full of Grace, Judith Dupré, the bestselling author of Churches, offers an intimate exploration of this beloved figure, now and through the ages. In a series of poignant stories and essays, Dupré examines Mary’s artistic, cultural, and historical influence, and at the same time shows how Mary’s human journey of love, compassion, grief, and humble strength inextricably connects her to our modern lives.

Accompanied by a breathtaking visual feast ranging from classic Renaissance portraits to unexpected contemporary images, Dupré’s text offers insights into the Virgin Mary as a mother and as a religious icon. Visits to the great shrines of Marian pilgrimage—Lourdes, Medjugorje, Fatima, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe—underscore the author’s journey to find Mary’s meaning in her own life. In an essay about Mary in the Qur’an, we see how Mary, far from being an exclusively Catholic figure, emerges as one of the central women in Islam. Another piece details the author’s travels in the Holy Land, a landscape wracked by religious strife but still overflowing with the spirit of generosity that Mary embodies. From Sudanese refugee camps to the painful reminders of Auschwitz, from the struggle of divorce to the challenges of raising a child with autism, we see how Mary’s tenderness, bravery, and grace infuse the story of every mother, young and old. For men and women seeking to better understand their own life journey, this book looks at the many miracles, large and small, along the way. ... Read more

Reviews

Refreshing and Spiritual, November 10, 2010
A must-read! Judith Dupre captures the essence of spirituality and invites us into the heart and life of Mary. For anyone that has traveled to Bethlehem and Jerusalem, this book will illicit powerful memories. "Full of Grace" documents works of art and architecture, historical events and faith traditions, and shares the history of each.

Artfully blending past and present, Judith invites us to seek Mary in today's world, both in the spirituality of our hearts and in the messy humanness of everyday life. Written on the premise that Mary's image is continuously reinvented through cultural interpretation, Judith seeks to further transform and enhance our understanding of this most powerful person of history.

An excellent resource for clergy. Judith takes history/tradition/lore and makes it relevant for contemporary use. As a pastor, I consider this a useful resource for sermon writing. What does Mary have to say to us today? Judith's insights open the door to our own spiritual awakenings as she brings a new awareness to an old narrative.

A Perfect Treatment of a Unique Subject, November 14, 2010
This is a gorgeous book. This book is a series of essays reflecting on Mary, from the author's personal experiences to reflections on Christianity's evolving theological treatment of Mary. These are supplemented by works of art depicting Mary throughout Christian history. The essays and pictures, ranging from early icons to modern digital prints, complement each other perfectly. Ms. Dupre's artistic perspicacity, personal candor, and obvious academic knowledge shine through on every page. Dupre's is a much-needed voice about Mary that belongs as part of today's conversation; with the author's focus on globalized life and social justice, she makes it clear that Mary is not simply a figure of history. No male writer toiling away on the theotokos in an academic or monastic cloister could ever have penned the chapter on the Palestinian hair salon, and that is but one of many insights and experiences Dupre has disclosed with a frankness which took a great deal of personal courage. Authentic self-revelation is always one of the hardest things about being any kind of artist, and therefore one of the hardest-found. The author did not dull her emotions by hiding behind the ersatz shield of academic objectivity, denying Mary her due power. Neither humanity nor scholarship were sacrificed; Dupre displays extensive knowledge while communicating the deep, personal role of Christ's mother in her life in a wonderful way. If you have always had a special feeling for Mary, regardless of your religion, or you are looking for a Christmas gift for someone in your life who does, you could do no better than this book.

A wonderful book on many levels, November 17, 2010
Judith Dupr� is known for taking on big architectural topics and presenting them in unusual, compelling formats that made them accessible to non-specialists. Her last book, Monuments, America's History in Art and Memory, provided lavish visuals and clear, conversational technical overviews rich in examples and detail, but also explored what makes a given work of architecture or art endure on an experiential level. Why do some works resonate over time and others not?

In her newest book, Full of Grace, she extends the trajectory to explore how Mary endures and resonates in various forms over time. Dupr� weaves together biblical stories, analysis, and interpretation of religious artwork along with contemporary world issues and her own very personal essays and insights. The book is moving and informative and generous as its subject.

Makes the familiar newly marvelous, December 5, 2010
This book has the immediacy, energy and complexity of an actual encounter. In it Dupre recreates the familiar, making the "old, old story" newly strange and marvelous, and builds bridges of understanding to practices and beliefs that seem foreign or arcane. Her narratives and commentary are shot through with Mary's simplicity, unaffected movements, and fresh beauty. I am delighted, comforted, confused, consoled, and affirmed by the deeply dimensional presence of Mary in these pages.

Women of all ages can relate to this book, November 22, 2010
A wonderful, nourishing book! This intimate portrayal of the girl from Nazareth who became the Mother of God shows the Virgin Mary's powerful presence in the here and now. With humor, pathos and intelligence, Dupre links events in the life of a modern, divorced mother to occurrences in Mary's life. The illustrations are beautiful, combining familiar masterpieces with unexpected contemporary images. This book was a real comfort to me, and will help many people realize that they're not alone in their struggles to find meaning. Just as Elizabeth Gilbert did in Eat, Pray, Love, Dupre takes the reader on a journey at once deeply spiritual and authentic.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Thomas Kinkade paints from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that inspire him and fill him with joy. This authenticity and passion has made him the most collected living artist in the world. Celebrated as the Painter of Light, Thomas Kinkade hopes to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates.

The weekly Thomas Kinkade Painter of Light with Scripture 2011 Engagement Calendar is chock-full of special features: the hardcover with a concealed spiral streamlines the look and makes it perfect for display or for tucking into a purse, briefcase, or tote bag. The calendar includes front and back pockets, a handy removable ruler, a tabbed section for names and numbers, and one for notes, too. All this in addition to the wonderful full-color Thomas Kinkade art on each tabbed monthly page and King James Bible verses throughout.

Thomas Kinkade (c) 2010 Thomas Kinkade ... Read more

Reviews

Beautiful, but..., December 9, 2010
This product is near perfect and the pictures are beautiful, but there's a huge oval sticker with a bulleted list of features that cannot be removed, as if people don't know what these are by the time they get around to buying it. It ruins the front cover and the best picture in the whole book. I don't get how a company can put together such a well designed calendar/planner then screw it up so thoroughly with their incessant need to put a bloody large red sticker on everything. We've become a put-a-sticker-on-it-make-it-better society. It's no longer good enough to make a decent product and sell it for a fair price, we have to deface a work of art by printing nonsensical lists of features that are apparent by looking at the item. It's like putting a permanent sticker in the middle of an ipad that says "NO KEYBOARD NEEDED". It takes a special kind of idiocy to stickerize Thomas Kinkade. I gave them 2 stars. I bought a score of these things, and every one of them are going back.

Kinkade Desk Calendar, September 11, 2010
I have not received the 2011 calendar yet but I got one for 2010 and I love it. Beautiful pictures and scriptures; large spaces in which to write daily appointments or notes. It has blank pages in which to write other information and addresses and internet addresses. I would not be without this Desk Calendar, since I love anything by Thomas Kinkade. Any of his calendars are great to have and hold onto for the beautiful pictures.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Thomas Kinkade paints from the heart, putting on canvas the natural wonders and images that inspire him and fill him with joy. This authenticity and passion has made him the most collected living artist in the world. Celebrated as the Painter of Light, Thomas Kinkade hopes to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates.

"I sometimes visualize faith as a garden, where hope is in abundant bloom." Thomas Kinkade believes we are closest to God when in a garden. Each spread of the lovely Thomas Kinkade Gardens of Grace with Scripture 2011 Wall Calendar features a full-color image of a wondrous garden, along with two Bible verses that express the artist's vision of hope and faith embodied in these sacred places.

Thomas Kinkade (c) 2010 Thomas Kinkade ... Read more

Reviews

Customer Service, January 2, 2011
The calendar I bought did not fit the frame I purchased from a kinkade galler several years ago. The explanation I received clearly explained why I was having this problem and that I would need to purchase a new frame as the size I needed was no longer in production. Would have given 5 stars but they did not offer to let me return it

Gardens of Grace, November 9, 2010
Thomas Kinkade calendars with Scripture are beautiful gifts for anyone. If I could look inside the calendar I might be able to give a better review but unfortunately I can't figure out how to do that this year. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Taoist symbols, ancient imagery and the gentle reflection of nature meet and merge in Nicholas Kirsten-Honshin's artwork. The Thich Nhat Hanh 2011 Wall Calendar combines Honshin's graceful paintings with the words of renowned Zen master, peace activist and author of over 60 books, Thich Nhat Hanh.
Nicholas Kirsten-Honshin is influenced by the sacred meditational space of the transcendental archetypal symbols of Christianity, Zen and Tibetan Buddhism as well as the shamanistic practices of the world's perennial philosophies. Thich Nhat Hanh's words, appearing courtesy of the United Buddhist Church, have inspired many over the years to embark on a more peaceful and mindful path.
The interior pages of this calendar are printed on 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer paper, processed chlorine free and printed with soy based inks.
A Thich Nhat Hanh 2011 Datebook (978-1-60237-354-9) and Mini Calendar (978-1-60237-363-1) are also available through Amazon! ... Read more

Editorial Review

In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little experience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David), Michelangelo was reluctant to begin the massive project.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal rivalries that abounded in Rome swirled around him. Battling against ill health, financial difficulties, domestic problems, the pope's impatience, and a bitter rivalry with the brilliant young painter Raphael, Michelangelo created scenes so beautiful that they are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. A panorama of illustrious figures converged around the creation of this great work-from the great Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus to the young Martin Luther-and Ross King skillfully weaves them through his compelling historical narrative, offering uncommon insight into the intersection of art and history. ... Read more

Reviews

Highly Entertaining and Informative, January 8, 2004
I'd seen this book and BRUNELLESCHI'S DOME in bookstores for quite a while. I just couldn't bring myself to purchase either for a very silly reason. The author's name, Ross King, just didn't sound very authoritative to me, for some reason. More a name for a movie actor than a Rennaissance biographer. As it turns out, that was a baseless bias. King definitely knows his stuff, as the book's bulging bibliography will attest to.

Purists may be put off by the fact that this book is so entertaining, that it can't possibly be serious scholarship. I say let them stick to Jacob Burckhardt, I'll take Ross King, any day. This is a masterly book, and King is an excellent story teller, marshalling his facts and arraying them in taut, controlled prose. His is an excellent overview of the full panoply of figures and events that made late 15th, early 14th c. Italy such an extraordinary place and era. Michelangelo lived in a time that teemed with larger than life figures. The Borgias were still wielding influence in Florence and Rome. Amongst Michelangelo's contemporaries that put in an appearance in the book are the firebrand priest, Girolamo Savonarola, Martin Luther, Machiavelli, and two of the other greatest artists of the Rennaissance, Leonardo and Raphael. The rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael is one of the keynotes of the book. Raphael and his team of artisans were frescoing the pope's private rooms in the Vatican at the same time Michelangelo was frescoing the massive vault of the Sistine Chapel. Raphael is depicted as an expansive, open-minded, hedonist, good looking and attractive to all. Michelangelo is a "jug-eared, flat-nosed, and rather squat, somewhat miserly loner, who also happened to possess an unparalleled artistic genius.

King is particularly adept at conveying exactly how delicate and painstaking the art frescoing actually was. The artist would have only a brief window of time to apply the precious pigments before the plaster dried. Michelangelo started the project knowing very little about the involved techniques necessary to perform under such a timetable. As the months and years went by, he became so adept that he could paint ever larger sections at breakneck speed. He had to learn his craft on the fly, however, under incredibly difficult conditions.

King dispels a couple myths that have come down to us, primarily via Irving Stone and from the movie version of his novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY. It is highly unlikely that Michelangelo had to paint any sections of the ceiling on his back. He did however, have to assume some rather uncomfortable craning postures for hours at a time. It's also evident that the artist didn't work alone on the project. He would hire assistants as the need arose. He definitely didn't mix his own pigments, for instance, a time consuming, exact and laborious task in itself. This in no way diminishes just how Herculean an effort he exerted, however. The sheer physical toll the painting exacted on his body was quite real. His spirit was drained by the enterprise. It was, after all, not a project he was eager to pursue. Had it not been for the overbearing will of Julius II, he would have turned the opportunity down and concentrated instead on sculpture, his first love.

This is a book I recommend without reservation and it goes to the top of my current list of reading suggestions. It's relatively brief at just over 200 pages and will keep anyone with even the slightest appreciation of art and of genius riveted.

BEK

The Misanthrope And The Warrior Pope, January 27, 2003
Ahhh.....remember Charlton Heston as Michelangelo- all alone, on his back- painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Well, in this very informative and enjoyable book, Ross King quickly clears up those two major misconceptions. Michelangelo was not on his back: the scaffolding was placed 7 feet below the ceiling. Michelangelo painted while standing, reaching overhead, with his back arched. And, he had plenty of help in his glorious enterprise. Michelangelo took on the project with a great deal of reluctance. What he had really been excited to do was the job Pope Julius II had originally had in mind: the sculpting of the Pope's burial tomb. For Michelangelo considered himself to be a sculptor rather than a painter. Though originally trained, in his early teens, as a painter, he had devoted himself almost entirely to sculpting in the nearly 20 year period which had elapsed between his training and receiving the summons from Pope Julius II to begin work on the Sistine Chapel. Additionally, Michelangelo had never before painted a fresco, which is a very tricky process involving painting on wet plaster. (He had once started preparatory work on a fresco project where he was supposed to go "head to head" with Leonardo. Alas, that project never came to pass!) So, Michelangelo did what any sensible person would do...he hired as assistants artists who had prior experience doing frescoes. Thus begins the fascinating tale of the four year project. Along the way we learn of Renaissance rivalries- Michelangelo had once taunted Leonardo da Vinci in public for having failed in his attempt to cast a giant bronze equestrian statue in Milan. Leonardo gave as good as he got: "He claimed that sculptors, covered in marble dust, looked like bakers, and that their homes were both noisy and filthy, in contrast to the more elegant abodes of painters." There was also the rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo. The two artists couldn't have been more different- Raphael, handsome, charming, well-mannered and sociable (and a notorious connoisseur of beautiful women); Michelangelo- squat nosed and surly, pathologically suspicious, seemingly uninterested in anything unrelated to his art. Raphael was at work on a fresco in the Pope's library, in another section of the Vatican, at the same time Michelangelo was working on the Sistine Chapel. One of the most interesting parts of the book occurs when the ceiling is halfway completed. All the scaffolding was removed so that the Pope could examine the work to date. This was also the first time that Michelangelo could get an idea of how the ceiling would look from the floor of the chapel. He is said to have been shocked at how small his figures looked, and when he started work on the second half of the ceiling he decreased the number of figures portrayed but increased their size by an average of four feet. It is also said that at this time Raphael, realizing how much more public and prestigious the Sistine Chapel project was than his own assignment in the Pope's library, lobbied to be allowed to do the second half of the ceiling. Of course, that never came to pass. Mr. King manages to incorporate an amazing amount of material into such a relatively small book: We learn about the complexities of fresco painting, especially on a concave surface; what materials the pigments were made of and the processes involved in making them; Michelangelo's lack of interest in adding realistic landscapes to the backgrounds of his compositions (he considered landscape painting to be an inferior form of art); his sense of humor- in one of the tableaus he has a character "making the fig" at another character (an Italian equivalent of giving someone the finger). The author also shows us the difficult relationships Michelangelo had with his father and brothers (they were always hitting him up for money or trying to get him to use his influence to get them jobs, etc.). And, as a change-of-pace, punctuating the entire book we have Pope Julius II going out on various military campaigns to punish wayward Italian city-states (and dragging along his reluctant cardinals)! Somehow, Mr. King manages to weave all this together into a seamless, smoothly flowing narrative. This is an excellent book, both educational and entertaining!

Superb author as engaging tour guide, February 6, 2003
Have you ever visited a landmark and had a tour guide who brought history to life - an engaging and entertaining person who had all the facts at his (or her) fingertips, but who delved beneath the facts to bring the participants to life? If so, you will understand the appeal of Ross King's "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling," for Mr. King is that kind of a tour guide. He takes us into the Sistine Chapel and fully explicates Michelangelo's masterpiece as a work of art, including everything from the technique of fresco to the kinds and colors of paint (and their origins) to the various challenges in the technique known as foreshortening. Although he liberally sprinkles the text with Italian and art terms, he explains each as he goes along.

Along the way, he also drops in interesting bits of information, such as, which panels in the painting, Michelangelo first saw from the floor of the chapel and what stylistic and color changes he incorporated in the panels after that, or which poses must have been difficult for the models (and who some of the models may have been) or why the medallions are disproportionately small to the rest of the work. Mixed in with art history and art appreciation are relevant pieces of contemporary history: the debauched and demanding Pope Julius II and the state of the papacy during his reign, the wars and diseases that afflicted the various participants and hindered work on the chapel, and numerous other small details that enliven the narrative.

King compares and contrasts Michelanglo with great rival, Raphael, who was painting the pope's private apartments at the same time Michelanglo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Raphael, who died relatively young, was more attractive, more popular, more adept at fresco (at least more adept than Michelangelo was when he began the ceiling) and generally a more sympathetic character than Michelangelo who lived to be almost ninety, had disgusting personal habits, was really not much to look at, and who really wanted to sculpt, not paint. While Raphael had the characteristic Italians call sprezziatura (making the difficult look easy), Michelangelo seemed to find everything difficult, or make it so.

King also debunks some of the more popular myths, particularly that Michelanglo painted the entire ceiling by himself, lying on his back. He had a host of helpers, some of whom also served as his teachers because he had minimal fresco experience when he began the chapel, and, while the scaffold was positioned so that neither he nor his assistants had to lie on their backs, the half squatting and bent-backward positions they did assume were equally uncomfortable, if not more so.

Though longer than "Bruneleschi's Dome," "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" moves just as quickly. King is never slow, dry or pedantic. He is, however, unfailingly informative. Should you be fortunate enough to visit the Vatican, this is obligatory preparatory reading. If you do not have that opportunity, King's tour of the Sistine Chapel is the next best thing to seeing it in person.

Things are Looking Up, January 3, 2003
Continuing in the tradition of his earlier book, "Brunelleschi's Dome," Ross King explores the genesis of Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel ceiling. King eloquently discusses not only Michelangelo's technique and composition, but also the contemporaneous rivalry with Raphael, who at the time was engaged in frescoing several of Pope Julius II's apartments. Written for the general reader, "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" is must reading for anyone visiting the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel for the first time--and indeed for the repeat visitor. What one misses, though, are more comprehensive illustrations of the various sections of the ceiling itself, which would assist in following King's descriptions and analysis. Still, by the end of the book, one realizes that the hand of God in the "Creation of Adam" is really the hand of Michelangelo, and we are all blessed by his divine inspiration.

A Sixteenth Century Soap Opera, January 17, 2003
Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King tells the story of four years, 1508-1512, in the life of three larger than life personalities: Michelangelo, Pope Julius II, and Raphael. Mr. King's latest nonfiction historical "thriller" is, however, more than a story of the four years that Michelangelo spent laboring over the twelve thousand square feet of the vast ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In Mr. King's able hands it becomes an early 16th century soap opera, starring Michelangelo, Pope Julius II, and Raphael, and featuring all the intrigue, passion, violence, and pettiness of a Sopranos' episode. What's so astonishing is that all that is told actually happened -- it's history.
Ross King's gift is his ability to bring us, his readers, back through the maze of time and lead us to an understanding of all that coalesced -- politically, socially, and artistically -- to create great art, great history and, for us, great reading.
According to King:
"Pope Julius II was not a man one wished to offend.... A sturdily built sixty-three-year old with snow-white hair and a ruddy face, he was known as il papa terrible , the `dreadful' or `terrifying' pope.... His violent rages, in which he punched underlings or thrashed them with his stick were legendary.... In body and soul he had the nature of a giant. Everything about him is on a magnified scale, both his undertakings and passions."
Michelangelo and Raphael as portrayed by King:
"Almost as renowned for his moody temper and aloof, suspicious nature as he was for his amazing skill with the hammer and chisel, Michelangelo could be arrogant, insolent, and impulsive....If Michelangelo was slovenly and, at times, melancholy and antisocial, Raphael was, by contrast, the perfect gentleman. Contemporaries fell over themselves to praise his polite manner, his gentle disposition, his generosity toward others....Raphael's appealing personality were accompanied by his good looks: a long neck, oval face, large eyes, and olive skin -- handsome, delicate features that further made him the antithesis of the flat-nosed, jug-eared Michelangelo."
The stories of these three men during this extraordinary four year period and the art they produced is the story embodied in Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling. The confrontations between Julius II and Michelangelo are legendary. "The major problem seems to have been that Michelangelo and Julius were remarkably alike in temperament. Michelangelo was one of the few people in Rome who refused to cringe before Julius."
For almost the entire four years Michelangelo was shadowed by the brilliant young painter Raphael, who was working in fresco on the neighboring Papal apartments. This rivalry the Pope seemed to enjoy and encourage. To help us better understand the friction between these two great artists King introduces us to Edmund Burke's treatise on the sublime and the beautiful:
"For Burke, those things we call beautiful have the properties of smoothness, delicacy, softness of color, and elegance of movement. The sublime, on the other hand, comprehends the vast, the obscure, the powerful, the rugged, the difficult -- attributes which produce in the spectator a kind of astonished wonder and even terror. For the people of Rome in 1511, Raphael was beautiful but Michelangelo sublime."
For me, reading a book like Michelangelo & the Pope's Ceiling is the way to read history. Mr. King transported me back to those four years during which Michelangelo and Raphael created art both beautiful and sublime. I was there with and among the players, engrossed in the anecdotes King skillfully wove into his narrative. This is history -- up close and personal -- and yet far, far away from the pain, anguish, anger and turmoil that pervaded so much of the lives of Michelangelo, Pope Julius II, and Raphael. As I read, I learned, I felt, and I understood. Isn't that what reading is all about? I certainly could not ask for anything more.

Fascinating slice of history, May 18, 2003
Ross King's story of the "Pope's ceiling" is much more than the history of the painitng of the Sistine Chapel, as fascinating as that is. Spanning only four years, this book is art history, military history, church history and more all in one. Michelangelo was a renowned sculptor, who at the beginning of the 16th century was commissioned by Julius II to create the grandest tomb the world had known. But Julius, the feared and volatile ruler of part of Italy as well as the Pope, changed his mind before Michelangelo started, and directed him to paint the chapel instead. Unskilled in the complicated fresco process, and bitterly disappointed, Michelangelo nevertheless has no choice and begins the project. King details the challenging job of preparing the walls, transferring the design to the plaster, quickly painting before the walls dry. The author debunks many of the stories that have grown up over the years--Michelangelo did not work alone but with a changing crew of assistants; he did not lie on his back but painted in a much more uncomfortable position--standing, looking up.

King also offers an intriguing look at the corrupt church of the time, as we recall that the chapel is being painted on the eve of the Protestant reformation. The pope is hardly a spiritual leader, but one prince among many, with the extra power of condemning his enemies to hell or granting forgiveness and absolution for sins. Julius spends more time warring with rival kingdoms than worrying about salvation, and one cannot help thinking of the many lives lost during these useless escapades. Julius fancies himself as the successor not only of the first pope Peter but of Christ himself, and his triumphant entry into conquered cities in a fashion reminiscent of Palm Sunday are colorfully described. The clergy are uneducated, poor and hardly living a life of holiness--the vow of chastity simply means one cannot marry, and as a result Rome is overrun with prostitutes. In a wonderful aside, King quotes from the writings of the young Martin Luther--overjoyed at the prospect of visiting Rome's holy shrines, he quickly sees the filth and corruption in the city, which no doubt deeply influenced his subsequent break with Rome.

King does a wonderful job describing the fresco itself, explaining the origins of the designs in history, the classics, and earlier art works. We also learn quite a bit about Raphael, a young likeable man about town compared to the grumpy Michelangelo. Raphael was painting the pope's apartments at the same time as Michelangelo was working on the ceiling, and King does a great job explaining the differences between these two great masters. Leonardo da Vinci, the older, acknowledged master, was also working at this time, and King refers to his works throughout.

Whatever one might say about Julius and the corruption of the time, the popes did much to nuture the flowering of the Renaissance, and they certainly knew their art! This book is highly recommended--the audio version is also very well done.

Have any interest in Michelangelo and/or the Sistine Chapel?, January 21, 2003
If you do, you will love this book. I read a good part of it while in Italy on vacation and marveled at the richness and detail Ross King uses to illustrate the people, politics, daily grind, and so much more of the early sixteenth-century in Italy. The ceiling of Sistine Chapel was painted in four years, 1508-1512, and King puts you on the scaffolding right beside Michelangelo as he works, whines, fusses, and demonstrates pure genius. I loved King's book, Brunelleschi's Dome, for many of the same reasons. The author has a background in academics and has done his research to produce an "in your face" accounting of Michelangelo and his famous ceiling. This is a terrific read and lots of fun. I hated to finish!

Michaelangelo still shines brightly, April 18, 2004
I just finished this wonderful book by Ross King. It details the life of Michaelangelo during the 4 years he spent painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It offers a mix of family history, art history, Vatican history and a detailed overview of each scene in the chapel and what may have led to its creation.

King is great at making history come alive. He includes incidents both private and public in an effort to allow the reader to understand not only the artist, but also time in which he lived.

King's previous book, Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture, contained all these traits as well. I read through each of these books in the course of a week or so, picking them up when I had a spare moment or needed to engage in something other than business books or my daily work.

"For the People of Rome in 1511, Raphael was Beautiful but Michelangelo Sublime", February 19, 2006
In 1505, Michelangelo Buonarroti was commisionned by Pope Julius II to design and create a tomb for the latter. The Pope was naturally impressed after seeing the artist's "Pieta" and had him return to Rome to begin work on the project. Despite being preoccupied with a project, Michelangelo headed to Rome and began on the new enterprise with enthusiasm. But the unreliable Pope suddenly left Rome on one of his colorful military expeditions and forgot about the busy sculptor, reneging on the fiscally dependent artist. Outraged at this betrayal of what he considered mutually conceded trust, Michelangelo ceased work and fled back to Florence disgusted at the Pope's fickle attitude. Returning after a succesful campaign, the Pope remembered the work on his tomb and had Michelangelo recalled. Michelangelo, one of the most admired and lauded artists in those heady days of the Italian Renaissance, was a notoriously difficult man whose temperamental personality was something to be reckoned with, refused the request of the Pope and aired his grievances. Busy with his previous project, he was perhaps the only man to refuse the Pope. But Julius was a character himself: dubbed "Il Papa Terrible", he had an equally volatile personality and would not consider any breaches to his demands. Eventually, out of fear of reprisal should he further refuse the hot-tempered sovereign, he returned to Rome to continue his aborted undertaking. To his surprise and regret, the Pope now ordered him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a prominent and storied edifice whose importance meant much personally to the Pope and was the place where new Popes were elected. The artist, more of a sculptor than a painter, protested. Worse, Michelangelo had to paint using fresco, one of the most difficult mediums used in painting, an artform which he was not too experienced with. Brushing aside all complaints, the Pope ordered him to proceed to work. Grudgingly, the artist began, and thus came to be what is considered one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of art.

Ross King relates the creation of the sublime work of art and the world around it. He depicts Michelangelo's challenges in beginning the daunting task ahead of him, which included the painstaking and demanding use of fresco, the architecture of the chapel, unreliable assistants, an impatient and demanding patron, and his volatile family, among others. He describes simply the creation and meaning of the different scenes and symbols of the paintings, making one aware of how the "Creation of Adam" was made and who the inspiration for Holofernes was. He dispels popular myths, like the famous legend that Michelangelo toiled on the work while lying on his back, paint dripping on his face, and that he worked alone.

Amidst this the author depicts early 16th-Century Rome and includes the cast of famous figures who shaped events in the tumultuous city. Rome was a filth-ridden metropolis inhabited by pilgrims and prostitutes, the eternal city run by a decadent clergy where homosexuality and syphillis ran rampant. In this environment ran a confluence of some of the prominent keyplayers of the day: the aforementioned Julius, the warrior pope who undertook extravagant building projects and military expeditions like donning his robe; the fiery and fanatical Savonarola, whose incendiary declamations ironically mirrored his fate; the poet Ariosto, part-time diplomat and scenemaker; the devoted and cynical Luther; and the great Raphael, whose competition with Michelangelo fuelled and inspired each other to greater heights in their works.

A good rendering of a definitive moment in art history, "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" is a tale of man's struggle to satisfy his muse, and the rewards to humanity it brings.

Simply put ... a briliant piece of literary work., September 21, 2005
The book is, as the cover title suggests, about Michelangelo Buonarroti and the fresco he painted on the vault of the Sistine Chapel, his most celebrated work of art.

I must say that the book reaches out and grabs you from the very moment you turn to the first page. It begins simply enough with Michelangelo's boyhood years, progressing through to his training in the arts apprenticing with various masters of that era, then on to his yrs as a sculptor and very wonderfully flows on to how he got himself commissioned by Pope Julius II to re-paint the vault of the chapel (the initial fresco that was there was chipped away to make way for the new one which Michelangelo would paint) . Amazingly enough you'll find that Michelangelo was never pleased with the proposal to begin with; in fact he was not only reluctant to begin work on the ceiling but that he actually had little or no experience working with frescoes at all til then!!! His forte then lay in sculpture and he is aslo responsible for two very famous marble statues, the Pieta and the David.

The book not only tells the story of Michelangelo but includes other great art heavy-weights such as Leonardo da Vinci (Michelangelo's arch rival), Raphael Sanzio (who's famous for his murals and frescoes in the papal chambers and his earlier paintings of the Madonna), Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio. It includes the events that took place during the time when Rome, Venice and Florence were at civil war waged by "the worrior pope" in order to become the one supreme power in Italy. It (the book)also gives a wonderful narrative about what exactly is a "fresco" and how it is done. The author has included in the book various illustrations to accompany the reading material and a most wonderful full-colour actual photo of the chapel vault in the center fold to better appreciate the terminologies and to allow the reader to follow through the progress of Michelangelo as he painted. Detailed explanation is given with regards to each of the biblical scenes of the main panel and certain characters of a particular lunette or spandrel.

Truly an awe-inspiring biography about a man whose hand was forced (technically) to come up with the most brilliant masterpiece ever created NOT entirely by the Pope but, ironically, by a man who, in Michelangelo's eyes, intended that the commission to fresco the vault would bring about his downfall...the pope's architect.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Amazon.com ReviewWhether you consider angels to be divine messengers, spiritual guides, or the stuff of legend, you will find something to marvel at in Chuck Fischer's beautifully illustrated Angels: A Pop-Up Book. Fischer's original art, inspired by classic images from art history, is crafted into astoundingly intricate three-dimensional pop-ups with fold-outs and moveable parts. Angels brings to life the most captivating stories of these celestial beings, from the angels of the zodiac to Biblical angels to angels in the arts and popular culture. Much like its subject, Angels: A Pop-Up Book inspires awe and wonder and is a unique gift book for all ages. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Certain symbols abound in modern Western culture that are instantly recognizable: the cross signifies Christianity, the six-pointed Star of David is revered by Jews, the golden arches frequently means it's time for lunch. Other symbols, however, require a bit of decoding-particularly those found in cemeteries.

Cemeteries are virtual encyclopedias of symbolism. Engravings on tombstones, mausoleums and memorials tell us just about everything there is to know about a person- date of birth and death as well as religion, ethnicity, occupation, community interests, and much more. In the fascinating new book Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by noted author Douglas Keister, the secrets of cemetery symbolism are finally revealed. For instance, did you know that it is quite rare to see a sunflower on a tombstone? Did you know that the human foot symbolizes humility and service since it consistently touches the earth? Or the humble sheaf of wheat-while it is often used to denote someone who has lived a long and fruitful life, do you know other meanings it might carry?

Stories in Stone provides history along with images of a wide variety of common and not-so-common cemetery symbols, and offers an in-depth examination of stone relics and the personal and intimate details they display-flora and fauna, religious icons, society symbols, and final impressions of how the deceased wished to be remembered. Douglas Keister has created a practical field guide that is compact and portable, perfect for those interested in family histories and genealogical research, and is the only book of its kind that unlocks the language of symbols in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner.

Douglas Keister has photographed fourteen award-winning, critically acclaimed books (including Red Tile Style: America's Spanish Revival Architecture, The Bungalow: America's Arts & Crafts Home, and Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties) earning him the title "America's most noted photographer of historic architecture." He also writes and illustrates magazine articles and contributes photographs and essays to other books, calendars, posters, and greeting cards. Doug lives in Chico, California, and travels frequently to photograph and lecture on historic architecture and photography. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent Photos, July 18, 2004
It is beautifully illustrated. You really can confidently buy this for the photos alone.

I like the book a lot. It is pretty comprehensive and the types of symbols are broken down into like flora and fauna which makes it easy to reference, there is a nice listing of orginizations in the back. Nice bits of historical changes in the basic meaning of symbols.

No book of listings of symbols is ever complete, I can think of a few things that could have been added, but buy it anyway. Great photos and you won't be disappointed.

And remember, just because someone had ivy carved on their gravestone does not mean that it symbolizes eternity, they really may have just thought it looked pretty.

Essential Guide to Demystifying Cemetery Symbolism, August 19, 2004
It's been said that a person has one chance to make a first impression. Conversely, one only has one chance to make a last impression, and where better to make that impression than the cemetery, where your statement has the best chance for longevity? ~ Douglas Keister

Since I was very young, graveyards have always fascinated me. I love the look of graveyards at night, although I've yet to venture into them in the middle of the night. I live vicariously through the Buffy show as I watch the DVDs. While watching the Buffy show I became rather interested in the symbolism of various statues and objects.

Now, with all the seriousness of death in our society, you would not expect to find humor in a book about gravestones and iconography, but it is definitely present in the most witty fashion. I have rarely found a book that made me laugh out loud as many times and at such surprising times. Douglas Keister has a wicked sense of wit and in the midst of decoding a certain symbol or discussing history he will bring in an ironic twist that is shockingly amusing. He also explains the real meaning of "skeleton in the closet" and explained the uses of exploding torpedo coffins. Who knew. He has taken high-quality photographs which not only set the mood for this book, they help to emphasize the details being discussed.

On a more serious note, Stories in Stone is essential for gravestone scholars and cemetery sleuths. Suddenly you will view graveyards with a new appreciation.

Douglas Keister discusses Classic, Egyptian, Islamic, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Through pictures and in depth research, he explains the oldest burial monuments and why a tumulus is mostly found in Western Europe.

Some of the Contents includes: Funerary Architecture: Designed for Eternity, Mausoleums, Chapels, Offices, Tombs, Sculptures, Memorials, the Sarcophagus, Stone Sentinels: Designed for Remembrance. Symbols: Plants and Flowers, Fruits, Grains, and Vines, Trees and Bushes, Animals, Fowls and Insects, Fishes and Mollusks, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mythical Creatures, Tradesmen's Tools, Religious Icons, Emblems, Insignias, Tokens, Death Seals and Angels.

You will also find informative and highly entertaining sections about:

Mortality Symbols
Christian Symbolism
Hebrew Symbolism
Chinese and Japanese Symbolism
Secret Societies

I now understand the relationship between Persephone and pomegranates, between the weeping willow and immortality and why my father objected to me dating a boy who gave me an anthurium-style flower.

While I don't intend to die anytime soon, I've already designed my own monument/gravestone which will be a girl peacefully sleeping with a cat on a bed and a butterfly perched precariously on the edge of the book resting in her sleeping hand. The girl will have angel wings and there will be at least three candles and of course, 5 stars placed somewhere in a row above a favorite quote. I also liked the idea of the tear vial and a key, not to mention a favorite flower. Perhaps someone could plant lavender around the grave or they could work lavender into the carving on the stone. I don't actually want to be buried, maybe they could just sprinkle my ashes around the stone and I could be reborn into the lavender plants.

Not only does this book inspire, make you laugh in places and bring enlightenment to anyone who loves to study gravestones, this book also has romance! Yes, there is a story of the Blocher Mausoleum in buffalo, New York. It is a story of love, loss and reminds us all that we only get one chance to live and love. So while this book gave me ideas for how to design my own sarcophagus, this book also reminded me of how much life I still want to live.

Oh, the cover is especially wonderful and the size of the book makes it perfect to stash away in your long black coat as you wander aimlessly through graveyards in the middle of the night.

~The Rebecca Review

tells the story, October 31, 2006
Received my copy today and went to the cemetery and immediately begin to understand the symbols and meaning behind them. If you are interested in the meaning of cemetery iconography, this is the book to get.

Excellent Companion on Visits to Cemeteries, November 24, 2005
I photograph in cemeteries and upon learning of this book through Amazon, picked up a copy. I must say, it is indeed a pleasure, a really information-packed book with a great deal of lovely descriptive photos. The book touches on some of the symbols one might find in specialized books on secret, hidden symbols.

I held back from giving it a full five star rating only because it seemed to skim only the surface on a few topics. But for anyone interested in this topic, someone who goes out on field trips to explore old cemeteries, this is a wonderful book to have.

It's fun reading over a cup of coffee, too.

Don't leave home without it, September 9, 2005
If you enjoy tramping through cemeteries large and small this is a book you will not want to be without. I keep it in the car all the time for those chance drive-bys of cemeteries I have not checked out. The author does a very good job of presenting each of the symbol topics is an educating as well as entertaining manner. My nine year old niece Sarah enjoyed looking at the book and is now more enthused when "strange Uncle Richard" wants to stop at a cemetery on a whim.
I am lucky enough to live close to one of the highlighted locations, Spring Grove in Cincinnati, Ohio.
From avid cemetery aficionado to the amateur CSI (Cemetery Scene Investigator) this book is "must have."

Highly, highly recommend!, May 28, 2004
I work at a large, 141 yr. old cemetery in the midwest and I can't say enough about this book. The photos are amazing and the information is extensive. I appreciate that the author included information on the architectural styles and the history of memorials -all of the way back to antiquity. He also covered the symbols of various religions, and fraternal organizations.

I think this book would be facinating to anyone.
If you even have the slightest interest in cemeteries, monuments, or just history, then you must get this book.

Beautiful!, July 25, 2006
A great book for lovers of cemeteries, symbolism, art and history. There are many photos and the text is interesting and well written. It's a very attractively designed book too and the size is rather different...it's smallish, yet tallish and meant to carry with you on your cemetery explorations. I do wish there was a coffee table style version of this book, larger with room for even more pictures! Buy this one, it'll make a lovely addition to your morbid book collection!

Captivating and Curious!, December 30, 2006
Even aside from cemeteries and graveyards, the information alone on symbols, emblems and icons is immensely resourceful. These combination visuals appear elsewhere too, not just in stone- not just for the dead! Many symbols for older societies and secret organizations in our world are touched upon, and their origins explained. Just a wonderful book. -Best, I love the format- easy handling! -For every designers' bookshelf.

Providing a handy hardcover pocket-sized 'field guide', September 7, 2004
Competing books on the topic of cemeteries have offered different focuses: how to conduct cemetery research, how to locate notable cemeteries: Douglas Keister's Stories In Stone goes a step further, providing a handy hardcover pocket-sized 'field guide' to cemetery symbols and iconography. Photos of angels, worldly symbols, and religious symbols are packed into a guide which explains their origins and meaning in the cemetery setting.

Don't like the small format, but..., July 2, 2007
Dead men may tell no tales, but the symbols on their tombstones do. This guidebook is geared for genealogists and cemetery fans. Several chapters on cemetery symbols include Flora, Fauna, Religious Symbols, Secret Societies, and Mortality Symbols. Other chapters are a guide to cemetery architecture, tomb types and a selection of unique tombs.

The book is illustrated with numerous photographs and includes an alphabetical listing of acronyms and abbreviations of societies, clubs and organizations. A chapter on mortality symbols discusses everything from the skull and crossbones to the grim reaper. There are chapters on symbols of flora (plants), fauna (animals), and religions (Christian, Hebrew, Chinese and Japanese), including descriptions of different kinds of crosses. Angels, who seem to gather in cemeteries everywhere, get their own section called "Heavenly Messengers." I was especially impressed with the chapter devoted to secret societies and organizations such as the Masons/Freemasons, Woodmen of the World, Knights Templar, Knights of Columbus, Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, Shriners, and others. Each of these is illustrated with an example photograph. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Thomas Kinkade paints from the heart, putting on canvas the beautiful images that inspire him and fill him with joy. This authenticity and passion has made him the most collected living artist in the world. With a detail from one of the artist's paintings on every page, this lovely daily Thomas Kinkade Painter of Light 2011 Day-to-Day Calendar is sure to inspire and delight all who appreciate or collect Thomas Kinkade's art.

Thomas Kinkade (c) 2010 Thomas Kinkade All rights reserved. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Large-format photographs by Florian Monheim, a renowned architectural photographer, invite you to immense yourself in the special world of cathedral art. Monheim's photos feature the beauty, both apparent and concealed, of great cathedrals, capturing the magic of these locations. Music CDs: Four CDs with great spiritual Music: Heinrich Schuetz' Exequien, Bruckners Te Deum and Mass in E-Moll, the grandest work for organ written in the 20th century, and the Salve regina as well as the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi. Names like Jochen Kawelski and the Schuetz-Akademie vouch for the highest level of artistic achievement. ... Read more

Reviews

Lovely photos but no captions., November 29, 2010
I loved the photography but, for each photo, you need to flip to the Index for the location and names of the cathedrals. Inconspicuous caption text could have been inserted in bottom corners of the photos for easy reference. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The ancient and enduring spirit of Jewish tradition comes alive in the Hebrew Illuminations 2010-2011 Wall Calendar. Jewish artist Adam Rhine has created ornate, highly detailed Judaic paintings in watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic. Each work is crafted to glorify the infinite nobility of the Lord and to visually bring forth His energy within different combinations and intricate patterns. The sheer elegance of their construction conveys wisdom and ideas.
This unique calendar features stunning new paintings honoring the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish people. The names of other Biblical figures, such as Moses and Queen Esther, are also celebrated. Adam Rhine's beautifully intricate Judaica paintings combine modern palettes and aesthetics with the influence of medieval illuminated manuscripts.
The interior pages of this calendar are printed on 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer paper, processed chlorine free and printed with soy based inks. ... Read more

Reviews

Beautiful Calendar, September 28, 2010
I love this calendar. The artwork is beautiful and the explanations along the side are insightful. I like the size of it; it's large enough to write my appointments for each day. Once this year is over I plan on framing a few of them.

This calendar i am going to buy every year. And I could find it only on Amazon website., October 29, 2010
Thats exactly what I need. Design of this calendar is perfect and all dates that I need to know are in this calendar.

Beautiful art, but..., October 4, 2010
The calendar contains beautiful art, but there is too much text (e.g. long biblical quotes, descriptions of Jewish lore, candle lighting times, etc.) crammed onto the calendar pages, leaving very little room to write anything in the date boxes. Very pretty, but not very practical. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This exquisite 16-month calendar highlights over 60 of the world's most beloved saints. From angels and abbots to mystics and martyrs, from priests and prophets to virgins and visionaries, their images and stories will inspire readers throughout 2010. This calendar includes a bonus advent calendar. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Celebrated as the Painter of Light(tm), Thomas Kinkade hopes to touch people of all faiths and to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images he creates. With a detail from one of the artist's paintings and a specially selected Bible verse on every page, the outstanding daily Thomas Kinkade Painter of Light with Scripture 2011 Day-to-Day Calendar is sure to inspire and delight all who appreciate or collect Thomas Kinkade's art.

Copyright (c) 2010 Thomas Kinkade All rights reserved. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Taoist symbols, ancient imagery and the gentle reflection of nature meet and merge in Nicholas Kirsten-Honshin's artwork. The Thich Nhat Hanh 2011 Datebook combines Honshin's graceful paintings with the words of renowned Zen master, peace activist and author of over 60 books, Thich Nhat Hanh.
Features: Hard cover with Wire-O binding; 52 weekly pages with month- and year-at-a-glance; 12 full-color images & beautifully illustrated throughout; extra lined note pages and a pocket; elastic band closure.
A Thich Nhat Hanh 2011 Wall Calendar (978-1-60237-407-2) is also available through Amazon! ... Read more

Editorial Review

A stunning oversized collection of our most sacred guardians, The Glory of Angels, begins by organizing angels by their closeness to God. Illustrations, short stories, and quotes highlight the importance of guardian angels and archangels including Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Special features explore such topics as the use of music as the voice of angels, angels in mythology, and angels and the last judgement. They explore how angels guide us by protecting and warning us of danger, healing and comforting us, and urging us to follow God′s path.

In-depth essays reveal the stories of fallen angels, angels in disguise, and angels who have given in to temptation. There are also inspiring accounts of those who have been visited by angels--Joan of Arc, King Lear, Willaim Blake, Lot, Daniel, Jacob--and how each eventually overcame his hardship with the help of an angel.

A full reference section is included in the back of the book, along with a visual glossary of images and illustrations describing each piece of art in detail and noting the name, date, location and artist.

Editorial Review

Classic images of authentic Tibetan thangka paintings open a sacred doorway into the world of Tibetan Buddhism. This Sacred Images of Tibet 2011 Wall Calendar features handsomely displayed meditative images of buddhas, goddesses and tantric figures. Each thangka is paired with informative text explaining the meaning and symbolism of the image shown. The paintings are all by master thangka artists living in Kathmandu, Nepal. These images have been used for centuries to awaken and expand consciousness.
Your purchase of this calendar helps to support the Tibetan Lama Fund, which is building housing for refugee monks in India, and the Development of Children and Women Center in Kathmandu.
The interior pages of this calendar are printed on 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer paper, processed chlorine free and printed with soy based inks. ... Read more

Editorial Review

To create is to bring healing and hope into the world, says Makoto Fujimura. Here he releases a series of essays that help us understand the connection between faith, art, and culture. Readers will find inspiration and experience a call to engage faith with our culture through art. ... Read more