Divine presence in Spain and Western Europe, 1500-1960 : visions, religious images and photographs

This study addresses the relation of people to divine beings in contemporary and historical communities, as exemplified in three strands. One is a long tradition of visions of mysterious wayfarers in rural Spain who bring otherworldly news and help, including recent examples. Another treats the seeming vivification of religious images—statues, paintings, engravings, and photographs apparently exuding blood, sweat and tears in Spanish homes and churches in the early modern period and the revival of the phenomenon throughout Europe in the twentieth century. Of special interest is the third strand of the book: the transposition of medieval and early modern representations of the relations between humans and the divine into the modern art of photography. Christian presents a pictorial examination of the phenomenon with a large number of religious images, commercial postcards and family photographs from the first half of past century Europe. Addresses the relation of people to divine beings in contemporary and historical communities, as exemplified in three strands: The tradition of visions of mysterious wayfarers in rural Spain, the seeming vivification of religious images - statues, paintings, engravings, and photographs seemingly exuding blood, sweat and tears in Spanish homes and churches throughout Europe in the early modern period and the revival of the phenomenon in the twentieth century. A few selected cases of visions and apparitions are detected and analyzed, including personal interviews with some of the witnesses. Of special interest is the third strand of the book: the transposition of medieval and early modern representations of the relations between humans and the divine into the modern art of photography. Christian presents a pictorial examination of the phenomenon, and comments a large number of religious images, including commercial postcards and family photographs from the first half of past century Europe Table of Contents 7 List of Figures 9 Preface 19 Chapter 1 Toribia del Val and the Mysterious Wayfarer of Casas de Benítez 23 Chapter 2 Images as Beings: Blood, Sweat , and Tears1 63 Chapter 2 Images as Beings: Blood, Sweat , and Tears 115 Visions Depicted 120 Connecting with the Absent and the Supernaturals 150 Supernaturals and the Absent in World War I postcards 180 Absence and presence in family photographs around World War I 220 Summing up 250 Notes 253 Bibliography 285 Index 305