Like Rizzoli's Views of Rome , Views of Jerusalem and the Holy Land juxtaposes contemporary photographs with engraving and watercolors of corresponding earlier views, extending the tradition of the vedutisti to accommodate the qualities of the photographers art-and creating a provocative dialogue between past and present. Elegant monochromes depict some of the region's most famous holy places, including the Western Wall, the Damascus Gate, the Ecce Homo Arch on the Via Dolorosa, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of St. John the Baptist, the tomb of the Virgin Mary, and the room of the Last Supper. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all hold Jerusalem sacred, and practitioners of all faiths have portrayed the city in art as it has been shaped by political forces throughout history. Both authors discuss Jerusalem's history, mixing in the romantic elements of art and the grandeur of architecture. Bahat combines text and art in a complementary fashion, focusing on the emotional and religious components of Jerusalem's historical development. He presents the romantic and religious views of Jerusalem held by three monotheistic religions and discusses how the art became a way to create a consciousness of the holy site for people far away. The art reflects visions of Jerusalem by both European and Islamic artists, though there are too few representations of Islamic art. Brooke's discussion covers sacred space, pilgrimage, and photographers in the 19th and 20th centuries. The photos, primarily of ruins, houses of worship, and buildings in sacred places, illustrate how buildings create and further a place's centrality for a people. Bahat and Brooke both succeed in demonstrating Jerusalem's presence in religious consciousness, showing how the city, its respective governments, and the three monotheistic religions have left their mark on one another. These books complement each other and can be enjoyed separately; both are recommended for public and academic libraries where there is interest in the subject.ANaomi E. Hafter, Broward Cty. P.L., Ft. Lauderdale, FL Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. Steven Brooke is the photographer of Rizzoli's Views of Rome and is a regular contributor to books and journals on architecture and design. Nissan N. Perez is the Horace and Grace Goldsmith Curator of Photography at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem.