The book presents in general the development of Bulgarian Church woodcarving from the earliest preserved models until the end of the 19th century. The presentation follows the main routes of development of this original art, with emphasis laid upon the symbolism of the included patterns. During the Revival period this symbolism is a synthesis between Christian and Pre-Christian patterns, preserved in the folklore thinking. The author emphasizes the role of the mythological heritage in ecclesiastical woodcarving in the National Revival Period as a folklore interpretation of Christian compositions. The book is intended mainly for ethnographers, folklorists, art historians and for all those fascinated by the magic of woodcarving.
Valentin ANGELOV. Professor at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia. Born 1930 in Vratsa, North-Bulgaria. After graduating in philosophy (1954), he worked on the theory of arts, aesthetics and the applied arts of the Middle Ages and the Bulgarian National Revival period (18th - 19th century). He has published 16 theoretical books on problems concerning art as a cultural phenomenon. Outstanding among his books are: National Revival Woodcarving. A Semantic Analysis, Sofia, 1986; Bulgarian Monumental Woodcarving, 14th - 20th century, Sofia, 1992; The Feast in Traditional Culture, Vratsa, 1997; A Panorama of Renaissance Applied Arts, Sofia, 1998; Myth and Folklore, Sofia, 1999.
