The Art of Armenia: An Introduction

by Christina Maranci

Though immediately recognizable in public discourse as a modern state in a political "hot zone," Armenia has a material history and visual culture that reaches back to the Paleolithic era. This book presents a timely and much-needed survey of the arts of Armenia from antiquity to the early eighteenth century C.E. Divided chronologically, it brings into discussion a wide range of media, including architecture, stone sculpture, works in metal, wood, and cloth, manuscript illumination, and ceramic arts. Critically, The Art of Armenia presents this material within historical and archaeological contexts, incorporating the results of specialist literature in various languages. It also positions Armenian art within a range of broader comparative contexts including, but not limited to, the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, Byzantium, the Islamic world, Yuan-dynasty China, and seventeenth-century Europe. The Art of Armenia offers students, scholars, and heritage readers of the Armenian community something long desired but never before available: a complete and authoritative introduction to three thousand years of Armenian art, archaeology, architecture, and design.

Genres: Art, History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2018

About the author

Christina Maranci is Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art, and a specialist on the medieval era. She has published and lectured widely, having authored three previous monographs and over seventy essays, articles, and reviews. Her work combines scholarship on the history of Armenian art and architecture with advocacy for at-risk Armenian heritage, particularly medieval monuments in the Republic of Turkey.

Reviews

[Luis]

A great introduction to the art of Armenia. An overview from the prehistoric times to somewhat what is going on today. Christina is an advocate of the preservation of the Armenian heritage, not only in Armenia but in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, much needed today with the difficult policies of those countries regarding Armenian heritage. The book is great for the interested, it complements greatly any scholar in the field of byzantine or Islamic art and architecture. I wished the images were larger, or that the book as a whole was larger. I also think that the pictures were not the best. There are great pictures of Armenian Architecture and art. But overall, it is very useful and made with much love.

[Joanna]

An excellent overview of Armenian art and architecture from pre-Christian times through the 18th century, with an afterword on threats to Armenian heritage. It offers a helpful summary of the political situations and theological perspectives that shaped the visual culture and some really gorgeous illustrations.