The 15 essays of this collection offer case studies of the burgeoning concern in medieval art history to identify eastern influences in western art, in this case western art on the eastern edges of the western world, in the eastern Mediterranean and Coptic Egypt. The icons and wall paintings and mosaics are discussed in terms of their iconography and style with detailed examination of the influences of non-Christian eastern art, both from classical works and Islamic art. The volume, which is slightly oversized, is heavily illustrated with b&w plates. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)