The Bible is replete with striking visual images: the parting of the Red Sea, Jonah and the great fish, five loaves of bread and two fishes. As author Edward Riojas states in the introduction, “When Jesus Christ taught, He often used parables—easily-digestible stories filled with imagery” (7). Illustrator Riojas has helped clergy and laity with this new resource of over six hundred images in black-and-white line drawings to enhance and elucidate biblical texts. Before this volume, Church Symbolism by F. R. Webber and Ralph Adams Cram (Cleveland: Jansen, 1938) was a go-to resource for visual references to help artists and craftsmen. This volume provides consistent images in Riojas’ steady drawing style and covers a breadth of subjects from “The Holy Trinity” to “Crosses” to “Saints and Sinners,” to name a few chapters. A chapter dedicated to “Lutherans and Their Times” illustrates content unique to Lutheranism, such as “The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession,” “Paul Gerhardt,” and, bless them, “Lucas Cranach, the Elder” and “Albrecht Dürer.” This resource could benefit beyond the Lutheran church and serve any liturgical Christian community where symbolism related to Holy Scripture holds prominence. A section dedicated to physical articles used in church worship is particularly appreciated, titled “Vestments” and “Sanctuary Fixtures and Paraments.” This volume could be a teaching tool for new confirmands in teaching the names of the vestments and articles used in worship or seen in the church.
John Hrehov
Professor of Drawing and Painting
Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana