Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 182 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

1. Studies the tendency of early Christians to present events of the Crucifixion as unconnected to the local political situation, to tone down the role of the Romans and to transfer all the guilt to the Jews, caused by fear of the Roman authorities after witnessing what happened to the Jews in Judea after the uprising. Gradually, as the Christ became increasingly godlike, the Jews were viewed as more and more cruel and bloodthirsty, the very image of the god-slaughterer. Analyzes how this is reflected in the visual art of the Church in the ancient and medieval periods. For centuries the Church used visual means to influence the populace, with warnings about eternal death and perdition for all the enemies of Christ: Jews, heretics and infidels. Discusses methods used to blacken the archenemy and to demonize the Jews. Shows how the images of the Synagoga and of Moses were used by the Church to develop increasingly hostile images of the Jews. Discusses, also, the deicide accusation, the host desecration accusation, and the accusation of ritual murder. Includes numerous illustrations.

Subject

1. Christianity and art > Catholic Church
2. Christian art and symbolism > Themes, motives
3. Antisemitism in art
4. Jews in art
5. Christianity and other religions > Judaism
6. Joden
7. Jodendom
8. Iconografie
9. Christendom

Owning institution

1. Harvard Library

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-169) and index.

Processing action (note)

1. committed to retain