Saints and Sinners in the Sky: Astronomy, Religion and Art in Western Culture ASTRONOMY, RELIGION AND ART IN WESTERN CULTURE

In this book, Boston University Professor of Astronomy Michael Mendillo takes readers deep into the annals of history, showing how visual depictions of the heavens evolved in tandem with science and religion throughout much of Western culture.

With unprecedented scope and scale, Professor Mendillo explores how cave art, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, paintings and architecture reflected some of the great religious and secular battles taking place over the course of centuries. Enter a world of biblical proportions, where constellations of ancient heroes and pagans were thoroughly recast as Christian saints and the Twelve Apostles.

This nontechnical narrative brings vitality and accessibility to some of the most enduring subjects in human history, offering a lively new exploration of the visual connections between celestial phenomena and artistic expression.

PREFACE

PART ONE:  ARTISTIC ASTRONOMY AND RELIGIOUS ICONOGRAPHY

Prologue

Chapter I. Astronomical Constellations and How to Portray Them

Chapter II.   New Players, New Roles

Chapter III.  The Schiller Enterprise

Chapter IV.   The Christianized Zodiac of the Northern Hemisphere

Chapter V.    The Christianized Zodiac of the Southern Hemisphere       

Chapter VI    Responses --- Theological and Astronomical

PART TWO:  ASTRONOMY IN CHRISTIAN ART

Prologue

Chapter VII.   Constellations of the Pagans in Christian Art 

Chapter VIII.  Beyond Constellations: Astronomical Components in Religious Art             

PART THREE:  CONSTELLATIIONS IN SECULAR ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Prologue

 Chapter IX.    Rubens and Astronomy 

Chapter X.      Astronomy-Art Connections in Multi-Media                  

Chapter XI.    Constellations as Decorative Architecture

Chapter XII.   Modern Art and the Many Themes of Constellations

Chapter XIII.  Astronomical Stars of Modern Art

Epilogue

Sources and References

Acknowledgements

 

                                             CHAPTER SPECIFICS

 

Chapter I. Astronomical Constellations and How to Portray Them

              Scope and Scale

              Focus on the Constellations

              The First Depictions of Constellations

              Reformations in Religion and Science—and the art to visualize them.

              Star Pictures from Earth

              The View from Another Planet

              Constellations Evolve

              The Amazing Number Twelve

              The Origins and Evolution of Celestial Atlases: Secular to Religious

      - The Farnese Globe

      - Printed Star Maps

      - Demise of the Artistic Celestial Atlas

      - The Line-and-Dot Constellations.

     

Chapter II.  New Players, New Roles

                 Allesandro Piccolomini

                 Johannes Bayer

                 Julius Schiller

                 Father Drexel, S. J.

                 Andreas Cellarius

Chapter III. The Schiller Enterprise

               -Pagans and Prophets, Beasts and Bullies, Saints and Sinners.

               -Options for Introducing a New Celestial Atlas                                                

               -Endorsements and Publicity

               -Schiller Tells His Story

               -But What Did the Apostles Look Like?

               -The Grand and Glorious Plan for a Starry Christian Heaven.

Chapter IV.  The Christianized Zodiac of the Northern Hemisphere

Chapter V.   The Christianized Zodiac of the Southern Hemisphere       

Chapter VI.  Responses --- Theological and Astronomical

                Counter-Iconoclasts: The Destruction of Images—Terrestrial and Celestial

                Counter-Art:  Luther’s position on the styles of religious art

                Counter-Clergy

                Counter-Science

                The Rise of the New Astronomy

                What was Schiller’s View on Science?

                A Decidedly Narrow Scope

                The Reaction of Astronomers:  Johannes Hevelius Speaks for the Professionals

 

PART TWO:   ASTRONOMY IN CHRISTIAN ART

Prologue

Chapter VII.  Pagan Constellations in Christian Art

                  Illuminated Manuscripts

                  Constantine’s Dream—A Celestial Globe in the Sky

                  Impact of Galileo’s New Astronomy upon Religious Art                                                            

                  Jesus and the Celestial Sphere: A Mosaic for the Russian Orthodox Cathedral

            

Michael Mendillo is Professor of Astronomy at Boston University.  His science career deals with research in solar-terrestrial space physics, planetary science, and newly discovered planets orbiting stars in our galaxy.  Professor Mendillo has assembled one of the largest privately-held collections of antiquarian astronomical maps, charts and atlases.  They form the basis of the Celestial Images exhibitions held at many university art galleries, the Smithsonian Institution and the US National Academy of Science.  His teaching of astronomy to non-science majors stresses interdisciplinary topics and their connectivity (science-art-religion-society).