Calvin and Perception in Early Modern Visual Culture

Calvin and Perception in Early Modern Visual Culture, Volume 1, examines John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion within its original visual context. This scholarly work in religious studies and history explores how early modern optics, art theory, and psychology shaped the way Calvin's earliest readers processed information. AnnMarie Bridges analyzes the role of pre-conscious perception and the potential for sensory distortion in the imagination.

The text focuses on visual metaphors, such as the spectacles of scripture and the factory of idols, to challenge traditional interpretations of Calvin's writing. By prioritizing perception over knowledge, this study of world religion and spirituality addresses themes of idolatry and faith. It provides a new framework for understanding how the tension between perception and delusion defines the reading of this influential religious text.