Little is known about Jesus beyond biblical accounts, though we do know more about the cultural and political context in which he lived.
Beginner's Guide
videos + essays
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Saint Wilgefortis
A complex figure, Wilgefortis speaks to medieval and early modern understandings of gender beyond a simplistic binary.
How to recognize the Four Evangelists
How to identify the Christian figures of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John by their iconography, or symbols, in art
Who’s who? How to recognize saints
Why does St. John the Baptist carry a lamb? Catherine a wheel? Mary Magdalene a jar?
The lives of Christ and the Virgin in Byzantine art
The stories behind the art—a quick guide for understanding Byzantium's most common images.
Architecture and liturgy
Liturgy provided the script, architecture the set—and the altar sat center stage.
The life of Christ in medieval and Renaissance art
From the Annunciation to the Last Judgment, this handy guide explains key moments in Christian art.
Christianity, an introduction
Jesus is the central figure of this religion, but there are many sects—and great diversity of belief and practice.
