Bernard Picart and the First Global Vision of Religion

This is a superbly illustrated exploration of one of the most important works of comparative religion ever published. In an era of intense religious conflict in Europe and ongoing exploration of the lands beyond Europe, the "Ceremonies et costumes religieuses de tous les peoples du monde" (1723-37), written by Jean Frederic Bernard and illustrated by renowned engraver Bernard Picart, set a new agenda for thinking about faith and provided a lasting visual template for representing the world's religions. Bernard Picart and the First Global Vision of Religion approaches this much-cited but little-studied work from a variety of angles, with fifteen scholarly essays examining Bernard and Picart's authorial and artistic strategies, the handling of religious differences, and the cultural context that fostered the creation of one of the most influential works of comparative religion ever published.