Foreword
1. Detail from a frontispiece of a Koran written and illuminated for Arghun Shah al-Ashrafi, 14th century; Cairo, National Library.
Preface
2. Entrance hall of the Sainte Chapelle, Paris, 13th century.
3. Mosaic of the apse, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 6 th century.
4. Mosaic of the apse, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, 12th century.
5. Michelangelo, The Last Judgment, Sistine Chapel, Rome, 1537-1541.
Introduction
6. Sketch by Fritjof Schuon, 1936.
7. Sketch by Fritjof Schuon, 1933.
Principles and Criteria of Art
8. Miniature from the Book of Hours, Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, early 15th century; Chantilly, Musee Conde, France.
9. Kitagawa Utamaro, Musician andEdo Flowers, Japan, c. 1806.
10. Indian miniature, Hyderabad, Deccan, 18th century.
11. Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, South India, 10th century; Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
12. Picture-stone from Island of Gotland, Sweden, 5th century.
13. Top of brass-plated wooden seat from Benin, Nigeria, c. 15th century.
14. Processional cross from Lalibela, Ethiopia.
15. Carpet Page, the Book of Durrow, c. 680; Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS A.4.5 (57).
16. Carved wooden board from Benin, Nigeria.
17. Processional cross from Ethiopia.
18. Contemporary wooden chest, Afghanistan.
19. Brass-plated wooden seat from Benin, Nigeria, c. 15th century; Pitt Rivers Museum, Farnham, Dorset, U.K.
20. Torii of Miyajima, near Hiroshima, Japan.
21. Zanabazar, Standing Maitreya, early 18th century; Mongolia, Choijin-Lama Temple Museum.
22. Katsushika Hokusai, Choshi in Shimosa Province, c. 1852; Paris, Musée des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet.
23. Kitagawa Utamaro, Scenes from the “Tales of Ise,” Edo period, c. 1796; Zurich, Rietberg Museum.
24. Katsushika Hokusai, Tama River in the Province of Musashi, c. 1831; Peter Morse Collection.
25. Ando Hiroshige, Shisaku in Iki Province, 1853-1856.
26. Coronation of the Virgin, from the Book of Hours, Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, early 15th century; Chantilly, Musée Condé, France.
27. Jean Manset, miniature from Histoires Romaines, 15th century, France.
28. The Gregory Master, Pope Gregory the Great, detached page of Registrum Gregorii, c. 997; Trier, Stadtbibliothek.
29. A Shiviti with Psalm 67 in the shape of a Menorah made by Solomon Halawa in the Holy Land, 1869.
30. The Phra Buddha Jinnarat of Pitsanulok, Thailand, early 15th century.
31. Peter-Paul Rubens, The Virgin Surrounded by Angels, 17th century; Madrid, Museo del Prado.
32. Altar of the Church of Rohr, Bavaria, Germany, 18th century.
33. Domenico Zampieri “Domenichino,” The Assumption, Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, 17th century.
34. Tibetan thangka depicting a stūpa (reliquary) surrounded by eight Mahābodhisattvas and eight Goddesses carrying symbols, 18th century.
35. Nicholas Roerich, Wanderer from the Resplendent City, 1933; New York, Nicholas Roerich Museum.
36. Ferdinand Hodler, Jungfrau and Silverhorn as Seen from Mürren, 1911; Bern, Kunstmuseum, Switzerland.
37. Miguel Covarrubias, The Rice Granary, Bali, 1931.
38. Paul Gauguin, The Market, 1892; Basel, Kunstmuseum.
39. Brueghel the Elder, Hunters in the Snow, 1565; Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum.
40. Harrison Begay, Navajo, South Mountain.
41. Antowine Warrior, Sac and Fox, Coming Home.
42. Henri Rousseau, Exotic Landscape, 1908; Prague, Moderne Galerie.
43. Vincent Van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888; London, Tate Gallery.
44. Paul Gauguin, Ia Orana Maria ("Salve, Maria"), 1891; New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
On Beauty and the Sense of the Sacred
45. Synagogue of Ben Ezra, Fostat, Old Cairo, Egypt.
46. Vishnu, Mangalore, Karnataka, c. 14th century; Ornamental arch, Kerala, 14th-15th century; Honolulu, Academy of Arts.
47. Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar, mid 18th century.
48. Christ known as the "Handsome God," Cathedral of Amiens, France, 13th century.
49. Jizo Bosatsu, Kamakura period, Japan, 13th century; Berlin, Staatliches Museum.
50. Egrets and Reeds, Kano School, Japan, 18th century.
51. Ni Gusti Raka, Balinese dancer.
52. Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, Papal throne, Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome, 1657-1666.
53. Sainte Chapelle, Paris, 1243-1248.
Man and Art
54. Miniature from Girard de Roussillon, France, 1448.
55. Earthenware painter, Isfahan.
56. Coppersmith working on a tray and a candleholder, Isfahan.
57. Weaver in Bali.
58. Navajo sandpainters.
59. Stitching Lahu Na applique.
60. Apache basket weaver.
61. Carpet weaver in Iran.
62. A potter from a village in Uttar Pradesh, India.
63. A painter of fabrics in Bali.
64. Throne of Maximian, archbishop of Ravenna, Byzantine, ivory over wood, c. 546-556.
65. Enamel Cross of Abbess Mathilde, gold with enamel, filigree, and precious stones, Essen Cathedral Treasury, c. 985.
Sacred Art
66. Sanctuary apse, Basilica Euphrasiana, Parenzo, Italy, 6th century.
67. The Virgin of Vladimir, c. 1125; Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery.
68. Icon of Christ “Not Made by Hands.”
69. Amida Buddha, Kamakura period, Todai-ji (“The Great Eastern Temple”), Nara, Japan, 1202-1208.
70. Page from the Jñāneshvari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Nagpur, India, 18th century.
71. Karamukha Chakrasamvara mandala, Tibet, 18th century. Hamburg, private collection of Gerd-Wolfgang Essen.
72. Page from the Hannya Shinkyō Sūtra, late Heian period, Nara, Japan.
73. Page from the Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, c.1400; Jerusalem, Jewish National and University Library.
74. Garbhadhātu mandala of To-ji temple, Kyoto, Japan, 9th century.
75. Koran page in Eastern Kufic script, Iraq or Persia, 11th century.
76. Our Lady of Petrovskaya, Russia, early 16th century.
77. Romanesque Madonna, Lombardy, Italy, 13th century; Private collection of Frithjof Schuon.
78. Scenes illustrating verses from the Bible Moralisée, known as the Bible of Saint Louis, France, 1226; New York, Pierpont Morgan Library.
79. Ogata Korin, White Prunus in the Spring, Edo period, Japan, late 17th-early 18th century.
80. Domenico Ghirlandaio, Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, 1488; Madrid, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.
81. Frithjof Schuon, Council of Chiefs, 19’ x 25’, 1958; Private collection.
82. Frithjof Schuon, The Descent of the White Buffalo-cow Woman, 16’ x 24’, 1959; Private collection.
83. Frithjof Schuon, Virgin and Child, 7’ x 9’, 1968; Private collection.
Naturalistic Art
84. Raphael, The Transfiguration, 1517-1520; Rome, Vatican Museums.
85. M ic he lange lo, Pieta; S aint Pe te r's B as ilica, Rome ,1563.
86. Venus, c. 150-100 B.C; Greek statue found on the island of Milo in 1820.
87. Andrea del Verrocchio, David, 1474; Florence, Museo Nazionale del Bargello.
88. Michelangelo, Moses, 1513-1516; Rome, tomb of Pope Jules II.
89. Ramses II, 19th dynasty, Karnak, Egypt, 1270 B.C.;Turin, Museo Egizio.
90. Our Lady of Montserrat, Spain, 12th century.
91. Michelangelo, Banishmentfrom the Garden of Eden, detail from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 16th century.
92. Michelangelo, Creation of Eve, detail from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 16th century.
93. Lady Chapel, Lichfield Cathedral, England.
94. Kwannon, Horyu-ji temple, Nara, Japan, late 7th century.
95. King Khafre, Egypt, 4th dynasty of Old Kingdom, 2520-2492 B.C; Cairo, Egyptian Museum.
96. Dominique Ingres, Jupiter and Thetis, 1811; Aix-en-Prove nee, Musee Granet.
97. Portrait of a priest king, Ife, Nigeria, c. 12th century; Lagos, Federal Department of Antiquity.
98. Portrait of a queen mother, Benin, Nigeria, c. 16th century; Liverpool Museum, England.
99. Portrait of King Jayavarman VII, Cambodia, 12th century; National Museum of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia.
100. King Menkaure and his Queen, Egypt, ca. 2500 B.C.; Boston, Museum of Fine Arts.
101. Attributed to Praxiteles, Hermes with the Infant Dionysios, Olympia, c. 4th century B.C..
102. Donatello, Saint George, c. 1415-1417; Florence, Museo Nazionale del Bargello.
103. M igue 1 Covarrub ias, Girl D ressed-up for Festival.
104. Paul Gauguin, Barbarian Tales, 1902; Essen, Museum Folkwang.
Christian Art
105. Our Lady of Sofronov, Russia, 16th century; Belgium, Monastery of Chevetogne.
106. Cross reliquary from Clairmarais Abbey, Southern Flanders, c. 1230; St. Omer, Musee Sandelin.
107. Icon of Christ from the Katholikon of the Great Lavra Monastery, Mount Athos, Greece.
108."In yo u rejo ices, Ofull of G race, all creation," Russ ian icon,c. 1600;Mos cow, S tate Tre tyako v Gallery.
109. Iconostasis of the Russian Orthodox Monastery Church of the Holy Trinity, Jordanville, New York.
110. Nave of Sainte Madeleine, Vezelay, France, 12th century.
111. The Virgin, mosaic of the central apse in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Torcello, near Venice, 13th century.
112.St. Peter Blessing, mosaic in San Marco Basilica, Venice, end of 12th century.
113. The Holy Shroud of Turin, Italy.
114. Icon of the Holy Face "Not Made by Hands," School of Novgorod, 12th century, Russia.
115. SimoneMartini, re tab le of The Ann un ciation, 133 3; F lo re nee, G aler ia Uffizi.
116. The "Mesopanditissa" (Mediatrix of Peace), Church of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, 11th century.
117. Iconostasis of the Cathedral of the Annunciation, Moscow, 1489.
118. His Beatitude Damianos, Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, head of the Greek Church.
119. C athe dral o f Reims, France, 13 th ce ntury.
120. Figures on the South doorway, Char tres Cathedral, early 13 th century..
121. Church of the Theatines, Munich, 17th century.
122. Shrine of the Holy Cross, Rome, early 18th century.
123. Simone Martini, Maesta (Madonna with Angels and Saints), c. 1315; Siena, Palazzo Pubblico.
124. Rose window of the South transept, Chartres Cathedral, late 12th century.
Islamic Art
125. Koran page in Eastern Kufic script, from Iraq, Persia, or Afghanistan, 11th century.
126. Koran page in Naskh script, Cairo, 1368.
127. Mosque of Muzdalifah, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 20th century.
128. Mosque of the Qutubiyyah, Marrakesh, Morocco, 12th century.
129. Saint's tomb, Morocco.
130. Prayer niche (mihrab) of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain, 10th century.
131. Door of a mansion at Meknes, Morocco.
132. Page of a Koran in Maghribi script, Morocco, 1729-1730.
133. Interior of the Qutubiyyah Mosque, Marrakesh, Morocco, 12th century.
134. Interior of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain, 8th century.
135. The Court of Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain,14thcentury.
136. Firdausi Encounters the Court Poets of Ghazna, page from a manuscript of the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), Tab riz, I ran, c. 1532.
137. Page from a Persian manuscript, late 16th century; Private collection of H. Weber.
138. The Ascension (Miraj) of the Prophet, from a manuscript of Nizami, 17 th century, Iran.
139. S e limiye M os que, E dime, Turkey, 16thcentury.
140. The Throne ve rse (Ko ran 2:255), Turkish calligraphy.
141. Mausoleum of Farid ad-Din Attar, Neishabour, Iran.
142. Entrance to the Shaykh Lutfallah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran, 12th century.
Hindu Art
143. Parvati, Chola dynasty, 10th century; Washington, D.C., Freer Gallery of Art.
144. Shiva Nataraja, Tamil Nadu, late 12th century; Amsterdam, Museum van Aziatische Kunst.
145. Parvati, South India, Chola period, mid 10th century; John D. Rockefeller Collection.
146. Coryphorus, Roman copy of the bronze by Polyclitus, c. 440 B.C.
147. Triad of Mycerinus, c. 2520 B.C., Egypt; Boston, Museum of Fine Arts.
148. Shiva and Parvati, Tamil Nadu, India, 11th century.
149. Standing Vishnu, Chola Dynasty, South India, 10th century; Museum of Madras.
150. Muktes hvara Temple, 9 th-10 th ce ntury, B huvane svar, I ndia.
151. S hiva and Parvati, 11 th-12th century, I ndia.
152. Chenakesvar Temple, 12th century, Belur, India.
153. Chenakesvar Temple, 12th century, Belur, India.
154. Lovers in a Moonlit Retreat, School of Garwhal, India, c. 1780; Ahmadabad, Kasturbhai Collection.
155. Girls Swimming, illustration to the musical mode Sindhuri Ragini, School of Garwhal, India, c. 1790; London, Ram Gopal Collection.
156. Shelteringfrom the Rain, School of Kangra, India, c. 1790; Boston, Museum of Fine Arts.
157. Queen Awaiting Her Lover, School of Garwhal, India, c. 1785; London, Victoria & Albert Museum.
158. Thus Arose the Love of Radha and Krishna, miniature from the Gita Govinda, Kangra, 19th century; New Delhi, National Museum.
159. Bodhisattva Padmapani, "The Bearer of the Lotus," Ajanta Caves, India, 6th century.
160. Screen with plum tree, Japan, 18th century.
161. Screen with gingko tree, early Edo period, Japan, 17th century.
162. Contemporary Balinese painting; Private collection of Frithjof Schuon.
163. Rice barns, Pariangan, West Sumatra.
164. Main Sanctuary of Inner Shrine, Ise, Japan, rebuilding of 1973.
165. Kamosu Shrine, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, 1346
Buddhist Art
166. Seishi Bosatsu, Nara period, Japan, 7th century; Paris, Musee Guimet.
167. Amida Buddha, Kamakura period, Kotoku-in, Kamakura, Japan, mid 13th century.
168. Kwannon, Nara period, Japan, late 7th century.
169. Zanabazar, Vajradhara, Gandantegchinlin Monastery, Oulan Bator, Mongolia, 17th century.
170. Jo cho, Amida Nyo rai, Byodo - in, Kyo to, Japan, c. 1053.
171. Zanabazar, White Tara, late 17th century, Mongolia; Boston, Museum of Fine Arts.
172. Walking Buddha, Sukhothai, Thailand, 14th century.
173. Descent ofjizo, Kamakura period, Noman-in, Nara, Japan.
174. Kao, White-robed Kwannon, Nanzen-ji, Japan, mid 14th century.
175. Amida Buddha Rising from Behind the Mountains like a Sun of Compassion, Konkaikomyo-ji, Kyoto, Japan, 12th century.
176. Amida flanked by Dai-Seishi and Kwannon, Sanzen-in Main Hall, Kyoto, Japan, 1148.
177. Japanese Buddha; Basel, Ethnographical Museum, Switzerland.
178.Descent of Am ida and His Host in Welcome, Kamakura period,Chion-in, Kyoto, Japan, 14th century.
179. Amitabha Rising over the Mountains, Kamakura period, 13th century; Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo, Japan.
180.Avalokitesh vara, Tibe tan thangka, early 19th ce ntury.
Far-Eastern Art
181. Tens ho S hubun, Landscape, 15th century; Tokyo, S eikado Gallery.
182. Ch'iu Ying, Emperor Kuang Wu of the Western Han Dynasty Wading a River, Ming Dynasty, China; Ottawa, National Gallery of Canada.
183. Tai Chin, Returning Late from a Spring Outing, China, 15th century.
184. Toba Batak chief's house, Sumatra.
185. South side of Yushintei, Sento-Gosho (ex-Emperor's Palace), Japan.
186. Futawarasan shrine, Nikko, Japan.
187. Tea Pavilion, Sento-Gosho, Japan.
188. Chinese vase, c. 1750; Private collection of Frithjof Schuon.
189. Ritual vessel, mid Chou period, 8th-7th century B.C.; Paris, Musee Guimet.
190. Wine container, Western Chou Dynasty, mid llth-early 10th century B.C.
191. Kuo-Hi, Autumn Sky, 11th century; Washington D.C., Freer Gallery of Art.
192. Zanab azar, Cyamatara, the S aviour, M ongo lia, e ar ly 18 th ce ntury.
193. Listening to the Pines, Muromachi period, Seikado Bunko, Tokyo, c. 1433.
194. Papyrus of Hunefer: the god Thoth at the Last Judgment scene, 19th Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt, c. 1285 B.C.
195.Lady of Highest Prim or dial, M ing D ynas ty, c. 1600; Paris, Mus ee Guime t.
196. Confucian sage, 19th century; Private collection of Frithjof Schuon.
197. Interior of the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Japan.
198. Interior of a contemporary house in Tokyo.
199. Interior of a contemporary house in Tokyo.
200. The Izumo Shrine, Japan.
201. East pagoda of Yakushi-ji, Nara, Japan.
Poetry, Music, and Dance
202. King Da vidplaying the harp, medieval miniature.
203. Three female musicians, Egyptian papyrus.
204. Detail of Persian miniature.
205. Krishna and Radha Dancing, contemporary Indian miniature.
206. Monk's dance, Korea.
207. Migue 1C ovarrub ias, A Seen efrom Ardja," a B aline se Opera.
208. Krishna Dances to the Beat of the Gopi's Drum, Indian miniature, Pahari, c. 1800.
209. Saadi Reciting his Poems and Listener Dancing in Ecstasy, miniature from Saadi's Gu lis tan, Akbar period, North India, c. 1600; Private collection.
210. Dervishes Dancing, miniature from the Kamsah of Amir Khusran, Persia, 1485.
211. Fra Angelico, detail from the Linaiuoli Tabernacle, Florence, 1433-1435.
212. Fra Ange lico, de tail from the Linaiuoli Tabernacle, Florence,1433-1435.
213.The Lament of Separation, I ndian miniature, Kangra, 18 th ce ntury.
214. Whirling dervishes, Konya, Turkey.
215. Flamenco dancer, Spain.
216. Siamese dancers.
217.Krishna Playing the Flutefor the Gopis, Indian miniature, Kangra, 18th century; New Delhi, National Museum.
218. Siamese dancers.
219. Hindu dancer.
220. Siamese dancers.
221. B aline se dancer.
222. African drums.
223. Folk dances in Morocco.
224. Folk dances in Morocco.
225. Karl Bodmer, Hidatsa-Sioux Warrior in the Costume of the Dog Dance; New Harmony, Indiana, Bodmer Museum.
226. Afric an dance rs fro m B anda.
227. Afr ic an dance rs fro m B anda.
228. Afr ic an dance rs fro m Zaire.
229. Afr ic an dance rs fro m Zaire.
230. Flamenco dancer, Spain.
The Art of Dress and Ambience
231. Little Wound, Sioux chief.
232. Hie traditional Hindu sari.
233. Arab ian S haykh.
234. Abbot of the Zographou Cloister, Bulgaria.
235. A Japanes e geisha.
236. Portrait of King Richard II of England, Westminster Abbey, London, 14th century.
237. Castle of Saint Germain de Livet, France, 15th-16th century.
238. The Golden Pavilion, built by Shogun Ashikaga Y)shimitsu, Muromachi period, Kyoto, Japan, 1397.
239. His Holiness Athenagoras, Ecumenical Patriarch.
240. Saint Louis Blessing a Crusader, medieval picture Bible; New York, The Morgan Library and Museum.
241. Edward I, medieval miniature; London, British Museum.
242. Portrait of Emperor Hung-Chih, Ming Dynasty, 15th century; Taipei, National Palace Museum.
243. Diego Ve lazquez, Philip IV of Spa in, c. 1631-32; S aras ota, Jo hn and M ab le Ringling Mus eum o f Art.
244. Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Henry VIII; Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery.
245. Hyacinthe Rigaud, Louis XIV, 1701; Paris, Musee du Louvre.
246. French commode, 1739.
247. Italian cabinet, c. 1660
248. Lacquer commode, Louis XV, 18th century.
249. Late Gothic chest, north Italy, late 15th century.
250. Gothic standing cupboard, England, mid 16th century.
251. Figures from the Central portal of the West front, Chartres Cathedral, 13 th century.
252. Arabian Shaykh.
253. The Vizier of Meknes going to the mosque.
254. Algerian notable.
255. Portrait of Amir Abd al-Qadir on horseback.
256. Moroccan dervish.
257. Tuareg nomad, Niger.
258. S haykh Ahmad al-Alawi, Alge ria.
259. Middle Rider, Sioux.
260. Plains Indian chief praying with the Pipe.
261. S to ney I ndian chie f o n ho rseback.
262. Sioux Indian chief and his teepees.
263. Mountain Chief, Blackfeet warrior, 1913.
264. Ute Indian maiden.
265. Southern Cheyenne tobacco bag.
266. Indian maharajah.
267. Tibetan priest.
268. Crown prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko, Japan.
269. Maples along the Tatsuta River, Interior of a lacquer writing box cover, Japan, 19th century; New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
270. Willem Hofker, Ni Tjawan, 1938.
271. Frithjof S chuon, The Creation of Woman, 1974.