Choice Review

This wonderful book is about Dominican art and architecture in central Italy, the order's Provincia Romana, in the 13th and 14th centuries. Cannon (Univ. of London, UK) writes about paintings installed in the area of the church used primarily by the laity, i.e., west of the choir screen, an architectural structure that spanned the nave and aisles. She discusses paintings and sculptures that were installed to the east of the screen--the area that includes the high altar and that was used originally by the friars. She also comments on artworks that were the foci of interactions between the laity and the friars east and west of the screen, and in the other parts of the convent. Doing justice to Cannon's accomplishment would be impossible in this brief summary. She brings together a wealth of material, both visual and documentary. She discusses the art in the contexts for which it was made, e.g., for the Dominican liturgy. One aside: stained glass windows had to be made on site. That there were Dominicans who specialized in this art form is not surprising. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty. H. J. Zakin emerita, SUNY Oswego