Chora

The building that was originally the Monastery of the Holy Savior in the quaint Chora district of Istanbul and is known as the Kariye Museum today is regarded as one of the most sublime examples of Byzantine art because of its 13th-century mosaics and frescoes in the parecclesion or chapel section. The level of artistic achievement attained in the Kariye frescoes parallels the pre-renaissance movement that began in Italy with Giotto and heralds the advent of a new style in Byzantine art. Chora: The Scroll of Heaven takes the reader on a scholarly and artistic journey that delves into all the details of this jewel-like structure. The book's text was written by Cyril Mango, currently one of the most respected names in the field of Byzantine art history, while its photographs were taken by the internationally recognized architect and photographer, Ahmet Ertuğ. The pictures featured in the book were exhibited at the International Byzantine Congress held in Paris in 2002, where they received many accolades. The exhibition was repeated at the Japan Foundation in Tokyo during August of 2003 and at the New York Art Institute in May of 2004. Chora: The Scroll of Heaven presents the reader with exquisite details of Byzantine art at the Kariye Museum that have hitherto been inaccessible to ordinary visitors. Captured by the insightful and sensitive eye of Ahmet Ertuğ, the images are magnificently reproduced thanks to the extraordinary labor of love and attention that went into the book's production.