The Art of Lent: A Painting A Day From Ash Wednesday To Easter

I was looking for something beautiful to meditate upon this Lent, and I've found it in this book! This is a very small book, so don't expect to be able to see vivid closeup detail of the paintings. The reflections for each day of Lent can feasibly accompany the paintings, but cannot really be said to be interpretations of the paintings themselves. They are however, deeply spiritual and wonderfully profound, if simple, meditations on some of the themes of Lent (repentance, forgiveness, humility, peace, contemplation, silence, purification, love, etc.). If one encounters each painting and reflection with a prayerful mien, this little book could be a wonderful Lenten companion! Thank you, Sr. Wendy.

Because this is supposed to he used during Lent, I assumed that the pictures and/or meditations would be religious in nature. Some were, but not most.

I wanted something simple, more meaning with fewer words. I also wanted to learn more about art. This worked. Some of the art was more meaningful than others. I was satisfied with this little book. I may use it another year to see if I have changed so the images affect me differently.

Lovely book, and the only thing I would change is the small size. It should be HUGE, perhaps 12x10 or even larger. Buy it anyway.

This was a lint read, good gave new insights

Beautiful book! Highly recommend!

A wonderful meditation book for anytime but especially Lent. Small book. I wish the print were a bit larger. Lovely paintings.

Just completed Sister Wendy Beckett's inspirational little book with a painting a day and her short wise paragraphs on each one leading up to Easter. Her choices of classic masterpiece's and contemporary art are extremely interesting and she succinctly makes the reader ponder great truths for the rest of each day. Her Easter Day selection, "The Supper at Emmaus" by carraveggio was particularly relevant, and her comments on children for Gainsborough's "Chasing the Butterfly" were insightful. I loved the size of this book and the full day of thought one could be left with from one picture and one page of writing. If I were to criticize anything it would be her writing of the single-word themes, "Silence," "Contemplation," "Peace," "Joy," "Confidence" and "Love," which take up a whole day, sans picture. I would recommend this to everyone to read during Lent or any time.

This is a beautiful book. The artwork, the layout, the writings, and the feel of the pages couldn't be better. Sister Wendy Beckett has produced a wonderful resource for the spiritual life.

Sr Wendy puts her knowledge and appreciation of art and art history to great use in this series of helpful and insightful daily visual meditations. The choices were at times surprising, coming as they do from a wide variety of schools, periods, styles and artists. I was delighted to encounter artists whose work I had not encountered before, with some thoughtful and helpful pointers for reflection and interpretation. I have since gone on to explore more of their work. As daily, Lenten reflections, grouped in broader, weekly themes, the collection provided spurs for Lenten prayer (as they are intended to do) although I have to confess that some of the texts left me feeling a little short-changed, as they read as a bit forced and even at times a little shallow. Broadly speaking, though, a beautifully considered collection with some poignant and thought-provoking insights.

I was looking for something beautiful to meditate upon this Lent, and I've found it in this book! This is a very small book, so don't expect to be able to see vivid closeup detail of the paintings. The reflections for each day of Lent can feasibly accompany the paintings, but cannot really be said to be interpretations of the paintings themselves. They are however, deeply spiritual and wonderfully profound, if simple, meditations on some of the themes of Lent (repentance, forgiveness, humility, peace, contemplation, silence, purification, love, etc.). If one encounters each painting and reflection with a prayerful mien, this little book could be a wonderful Lenten companion! Thank you, Sr. Wendy.

Because this is supposed to he used during Lent, I assumed that the pictures and/or meditations would be religious in nature. Some were, but not most.

I wanted something simple, more meaning with fewer words. I also wanted to learn more about art. This worked. Some of the art was more meaningful than others. I was satisfied with this little book. I may use it another year to see if I have changed so the images affect me differently.

Lovely book, and the only thing I would change is the small size. It should be HUGE, perhaps 12x10 or even larger. Buy it anyway.

This was a lint read, good gave new insights

Beautiful book! Highly recommend!

A wonderful meditation book for anytime but especially Lent. Small book. I wish the print were a bit larger. Lovely paintings.

Just completed Sister Wendy Beckett's inspirational little book with a painting a day and her short wise paragraphs on each one leading up to Easter. Her choices of classic masterpiece's and contemporary art are extremely interesting and she succinctly makes the reader ponder great truths for the rest of each day. Her Easter Day selection, "The Supper at Emmaus" by carraveggio was particularly relevant, and her comments on children for Gainsborough's "Chasing the Butterfly" were insightful. I loved the size of this book and the full day of thought one could be left with from one picture and one page of writing. If I were to criticize anything it would be her writing of the single-word themes, "Silence," "Contemplation," "Peace," "Joy," "Confidence" and "Love," which take up a whole day, sans picture. I would recommend this to everyone to read during Lent or any time.

This is a beautiful book. The artwork, the layout, the writings, and the feel of the pages couldn't be better. Sister Wendy Beckett has produced a wonderful resource for the spiritual life.

Sr Wendy puts her knowledge and appreciation of art and art history to great use in this series of helpful and insightful daily visual meditations. The choices were at times surprising, coming as they do from a wide variety of schools, periods, styles and artists. I was delighted to encounter artists whose work I had not encountered before, with some thoughtful and helpful pointers for reflection and interpretation. I have since gone on to explore more of their work. As daily, Lenten reflections, grouped in broader, weekly themes, the collection provided spurs for Lenten prayer (as they are intended to do) although I have to confess that some of the texts left me feeling a little short-changed, as they read as a bit forced and even at times a little shallow. Broadly speaking, though, a beautifully considered collection with some poignant and thought-provoking insights.

What a lovely book this. Many of remember Sister Wendy's TV appearances where she shared the joy that she found in are alongside remarkable intellectual insights into both works and their creators. This little book gives us a small collection paintings with a sort reflection appropriate to the season. It is a delight and also a taster for those who want to know more about the power of art.

Yes I do like this little book, however it really is in part a repetition of her other delightful little books entitled, Meditations on Silence etc etc... The print in The Art of Lent Book is very small and rather pale which makes reading a little difficult, but all in all a lovely little book but if you already have copies of her Meditation books mentioned above perhaps leave this one alone...

Beautifully produced booklet and some of the meditations are profound and helped me to use art to illustrate depth of thought and prayer. Some of the meditations, however, are obscure and/or pretentious.

This is a very worthwhile Lent book and you can hear Sister Wendy's voice in the words. There are some interesting choices of painting. The only thing that stops it getting 5 stars is that the size of the book means some of the pictures are shrunk too much to see them clearly.

Bought for my Mum who was very pleased to receive it on Valentines Day = Ash Wednesday Takes one through Lent with fine art to contemplate

A lovely book with a wide variety of paintings to help the reader in self-reflection and also to reflect on the themes of the season. An ideal gift for those who like art, even if they are not religious, and a perfect size for carrying around. I have used it with a church study group and it has been much appreciated.

Loved the idea of using a different work of art each day through Lent with relevant reflections. My only criticism is that the illustrations are a little too small - but it is easy to find larger versions on the internet to look in more detail.

This is a beautiful book which incorporates a variety of striking works of art with wise words. Highly recommend!

A collection of very strange ,mostly modern works of art with a commentary which did not provide help in interpreting the picture but presented tangential ideas

Bought this for my wife who has been using the Advent version. This is a wonderful book that helps you get closer to God during Lent

I bought this for a friend who's absolutely delighted with it. I've now seen it myself and it's a terrific little book. And as for Sister Wendy herself, she's out fo the top drawer.

An inspirational, thought provoking book. This small but beautifully crafted book is relevant not only to Lent but throughout the year. It is a book to be read and reread.

A great little book. Really good paintings and very thought provoking from Sister Wendy. Glad I bought this and will use again.

Lovely little book. The text is rather small though.

A delightful book. Some paintings are familiar, others not so, but Sister Wendy’s prayerful accompanying notes add so much to understanding and appreciation.

More than satisfied that this little gem of a book will be a real blessing for Lent.

Prompt delivery and lovely pictures with Lent reflections

Thought provoking and informative.

Wonderful and thoughtful book to meditate and reflect on. Perfect for Lent.

One for myself, one for a friend. These are lovely, thought private king short commentaries on a variety of paintings.

Pleasantly surprised of how engaging one can be with God through art. Great purchase one can use year in year out!

Some of the pictures I liked, some of them I did not appreciate, however which ever picture Sister Wendy was describing was always interesting to read. Some of her phrases were very philosophical.

A book which gave me much to think about during Lent.

good

great

Finding this very helpful to reflect and meditate with in Lent