Icons

"Richard Temple's lavishly illustrated book provides a concise but thorough tour through the ages of the icon, tracing the art from its origins to the 19th century and beyond. The icons selected to illustrate the text include famous works as well as many stunning, rarely seen ones. This particular emphasis on lesser-known masterpieces, along with the author's cogent, thorough and very personal overview of the major periods and themes of icon painting, make this book a truly unique contribution to the field of art history and appreciation. It is both an introduction for the uninitiated and an object in its own right that will delight connoisseurs."--BOOK JACKET.