Gervase Mathew, Byzantine Aesthetics, 1st US Edition 1964, illustrated

"Byzantine Aesthetics" by Gervase Mathew, published by Viking Press, 1964. First American Edition.

Hard boards, original green cloth [some wear], gold decoration on front board and gold lettering on spine; 6.1/4" x 8.3/4"; endpapers are maps, 189 pages including Index, a few underlines withdrawn college book with stamps and pocket, very good condition.

Analyzes Byzantine standards of beauty by relating them to changes in Byzantine civilization.

"Until this day, there are only two books written on this subject in all the world bibliography - this one in English, and another one - in Russian. They are very different and mutually reciprocal. This book is very "genetic" - it follows up precisely the evolution of Byzantine Art in the context of historical events, and does it magnificently." [from a private review]

Anthony Gervase Mathew (1905-1976) was a Catholic priest and British academic. A member of the Dominican Order, he taught at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford. Matthew's publications covered a range of fields, including classical antiquity, Byzantine art and history, historical theology, patristics, and fourteenth-century English literature and politics.

In collaboration with the Chair of Modern Greek studies, Professor John Mavrogordato, Mathew instituted Byzantine Studies at the University of Oxford. From 1947–1971 he held the post of University Lecturer in Byzantine Studies, and in 1965 he was Visiting Professor at the University of California.

While at Oxford, Mathew was a guest member of a literary group, the Inklings, which was also frequented by J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, David Cecil, and Owen Barfield.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------ $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: 1st Class (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $44.50