How do you represent the divine and the central miracles of Christianity? Divine Presence explores this question through the captivating world of marble representations in Late Gothic and Early Renaissance art. 

This groundbreaking study reveals how painters—including Fra Angelico, Bellini, Crivelli and Mantegna—transformed depictions of marble from mere decoration into a powerful theological tool. By blending naturalistic detail with imaginative color and texture, these artists created visual meditations on creation, incarnation, resurrection, and divine presence. Their pioneering use of paint foreshadows much later artistic movements and gestures; their works made the ineffable visible, inviting viewers to glimpse heaven through pigment and stone. 

The first visual study of this widespread visual phenomenon, Divine Presence offers fresh insights for art lovers, culture enthusiasts, and history buffs. Through stunning imagery, original research, and engaging texts, this book uncovers the spiritual and devotional power of painted marble in the art of the Late Gothic and Early Renaissance.

Supported by the Peter Marino Art Foundation

Karl Kolbitz is an editor and author who gained international recognition with Entryways of Milan (2017), an homage to the city's modernist lobbies and thresholds. His Gio Ponti (2021), is the most comprehensive publication on the life and work of the Italian architect and designer. Across his books, he invites readers to look again and discover new cultural, aesthetic and spiritual meaning in subjects often hidden in plain sight.