Divine Presence

Limited first edition of 999 copies

Title label, linen, gold top edge

The first comprehensive study of painted marble as a theological image 

Divine Presence explores how Late Gothic and Early Renaissance artists – including Fra Angelico, Bellini, Crivelli, and Mantegna – transformed depictions of marble into a powerful theological tool. Through naturalistic details, color, and texture, they visualized key Christian concepts such as creation, incarnation, and resurrection. 

Highlights: 

• First comprehensive study of painted marble in Christian art of this period Features masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Bellini, Crivelli, and Mantegna 
• Combines art historical analysis with theological perspectives 
• Richly illustrated with new research and accessible texts 

This groundbreaking book is essential for art historians, students, and all readers interested in the intersection of material, image, and religion.

Karl Kolbitz is an editor and author whose projects, at the intersection of art, architecture, and design, have gained international acclaim. His publications explore subjects hidden in the everyday, bringing the seemingly incidental to the forefront. He gained international recognition with Entryways of Milan (2017), a homage to the city's modern architecture. In 2021, he followed up with Gio Ponti , the most comprehensive publication on the life and work of the Italian architect and designer.