East-West Artistic Transfer through Rome, Armenia and the Silk Road: Sharing St. Peter's

This book examines the arts and artistic exchanges at the ‘Christian Oriental’ fringes of Europe, especially Armenia. It starts with the architecture, history and inhabitants of the lesser known pilgrim compounds at the Vatican in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive exploration delves into the vibrant arts and artistic exchanges that flourished at the 'Christian Oriental fringes of Europe,' particularly in Armenia. It begins by examining the architectural, historical, and inhabitants of lesser-known pilgrim compounds located at the Vatican during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including those in Hungary, Germany, and, most notably, the ancient Churches of the Christian Orient in Ethiopia and Armenia. Rather than adopting a Eurocentric perspective, this book seeks to understand the role of missionaries, merchants, artists (such as Momik, Giotto, Minas, Domenico Veneziano, and Duerer), and artifacts (such as fabrics, inscriptions, and symbols) that traversed the western stretch of the Silk Road, connecting Ayas (Cilicia), ancient Armenia, and North-western Iran. This region, which existed before the advent of globalization, was a hub of intense cultural exchanges and East-West cultural transmissions. By incorporating Armenian arts into the broader art historical discourse, this book offers a fresh perspective on the culturally diverse landscapes found in the Christian Orient, the Middle East, and North-eastern Africa.

Scholars in art history, architectural history, missions, trade, Middle Eastern arts, and the arts of the Southern Caucasus will find this book particularly intriguing. It sheds light on the rich tapestry of artistic traditions and exchanges that characterized this region, contributing to our understanding of the complex and multifaceted history of the Christian world.

Weight: 599g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781409403067