The Bestiary of Christ

by Louis Charbonneau-Lassay, D.M. Dooling (Translation)

This extraordinary and extraordinarily beautiful volume introduces readers to a compendium of animal symbolism that ranks with the greatest of the classical and medieval bestiaries.

Genres: Christianity, Religion, History, Reference, Nonfiction, Animals, Art

496 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a union of belief from the ancient to the medieval world that nature is a reflection of the mind of God. All the universe and all that is contained within it is a symbolic representation or emblem of a higher spiritual reality. This beautiful book is an encyclopedic examination of this perspective, specifically through the study of the living creatures of the earth. I recommend it not only to those interested in the history of religion, symbolism and the arts, but also for those who want to foster this perception themselves, to see the world and its creatures as our ancient and medieval ancestors did: constantly proclaiming the glory of God.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great benefits of working in an esoteric bookstore for a time was the opportunity to run across oddly beautiful volumes. Although it was never a best seller, this is a fascinating book. It is abridged from the original one thousand pages to a mere 467, with reproductions of over four hundred original woodcuts. Concentrating on Christian symbolism, it manages to make this topic more than the domain of the pedant. It is a beautiful and intriguing book.

[Finbar Tilderhaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a resourceful and accessible presentation. The print is flawless, the paper relaxing to read, not a bright white. D.M. Dooling did the English-reading world a service with his labour. All is explained in his foreword. He provides new bibliographical notes to each and every chapter, from which further research can be conducted. These notes alone, surrounding the rather niche nature of this topic, are worth the price of the book. Anyone interested in classical, Christian, medieval, or heraldic iconography should pick up a copy. If you're wondering how much effort it takes to "get through" this, don't fret. Each chapter is a standalone presentation of a different animal or mythological beast. There are over sixty, categorized. Each has its own relevant historical illustrations to the context, with notes. These may be read at separate times, there is no need to read the book straight through. Dooling sets to task with care and deliberation, to treat this unique work with the respect it deserves. His narrative of the biographical details concerning Charbonneau-Lassay and the tragic difficulties preservation and publication of his work encountered. Multiple complete French editions were published, but there are no unabridged editions in English. There was also a Spanish translation, in two volumes, by Francesc Gutierrez. Additionally, post-publication of this volume (1991), more of Charbonneau-Lassay's work was compiled and published, but again, not in English. One may hop over to worldcat, and search for Louis Charbonneau-Lassay. I rated it 5 stars, but this doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see the unabridged version in English someday, and in a hardcover edition.

[Maya Tsingos · Rating 5 out of 5]

what do you MEAN the san francisco public library does not have this legendary religious symbolism book in the original french 🤨

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot. However, this is definitely a book that will primarily be enjoyed by those that have an interest in symbolism. The first few chapters on the Tetramorph are difficult to understand because the dive into the symbolism is pretty intense. It's gets better and more interesting as the chapters go on. I particularly liked the chapters on the birds. Keep in mind that this book was written in French and at the beginning of the last century, so it can be a little cumbersome to read. I highly recommend it for those interested in Christian symbolism and even heraldry.