Art of Faith

Synopsis

This series of three hour-long films exploring the architecture and art of Judaism, Christianity and Islam visits many of the greatest and most significant religious buildings of the world. Filmed in high definition for Sky Arts. The architecture and art of each building is brought alive through the eyes of a guide who knows it intimately. Rabbis, priests and imams, congregation members and art historians explain the history of these sacred places and, in many cases, their importance today as places of lived faith.

Judaism visits one of the earliest synagogues on the mountain fort of Masada, the Gothic Old-New Synagogue in Prague and nineteenth-century houses of worship in Budapest, Liverpool and New York, as well as Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece Beth Sholom near Philadelphia.

Locations for Christianity include Saint Catherine’s monastery at the foot of Mt Sinai, San Vitale in Ravenna, the cathedrals of Durham and Chartres, St Peter’s Basilica, and the beautiful chapel decorated by Henri Matisse in Vence, France.

Islam includes the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, mosques in Kairouan and Cordoba, both the Haghia Sophia church and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the Taj Mahal at Agra and the madrassas of Samarkand.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2008

Year of production

2008

Notes

Broadcast in 3 weekly parts on Sky Arts beginning 15/6/2008

Subjects

Architecture; Art; Religious studies

Keywords

Christianity; Islam; Judaism; religious belief and practice; religious buildings; religious art

Credits

Contributor

John McCarthy

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 0 PAL

Price

£19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

180 minutes

Year

2011

Sponsor

Name

Sky Arts

Distributor

Name

Illuminations

Email

louise@illuminationsmedia.co.uk

Web

http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7288 8400

Address

Studio 121, ScreenWorks
22 Highbury Grove
London
N5 2EF

Notes

Illuminations produces and distributes programmes on arts-related subjects, some of which are made for television and others in conjunction with cultural institutions to accompany specific exhibitions. Many titles are available for sale on DVD, including continuing series on leading contemporary and twentieth century artists and modern architecture, as well as a few programmes on religion, drama, history and ideas.