Vision of Nature: Traces of the Original World

For thousands of years humans have grappled with the idea of Nature. This enduring question has left its poignant mark on a multiplicity of images, stories, works of art, & philosophical & religious systems. Here Tobias seeks to unravel the aesthetic, psychological & philosophical impact that the Earth has had on humanity, providing a dramatic overview of the new field of ecological aesthetics. Comprised of 10 autobiographical essays, this book is lavishly illustrated with art & images never brought together in an ecological context. Discusses Vivaldi, Giorgione, van Eyck & Vermeer, the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean, the ascetics of Sinai & Tibet, the Pure Land Buddhists, the Jains of India, Percy Bysshe Shelley, & much more.