Medieval Art

BL An exploration of the role of early medieval religious art in its historical context, focusing on England from the reign of Alfred the Great to the aftermath of the Norman conquest. Tenth and eleventh century society expressed itself extensively through visual means, and the surviving material provides a rich body of evidence for the religious culture of the time. Combining visual and documentary evidence, The Role of Art in the Late Anglo-Saxon Church sheds new light on a wide range of magnificent art works and their functions, and offers fresh perspectives on the ecclesiastical history and beliefs of late Anglo Saxon England, with important implications for the study of early medieval civilization in general.

Medieval Architecture in Western Europe covers the entire period of European Medieval architecture from c. 300 to c.1500. It offers a basic introduction with appropriate plans, sections, and photographs, all in one single volume. Concerned about the perceived gap in current art history books in regards to medieval architecture, the author is careful to examine selected major monuments, incorporating just the right amount of detail to provide the basic information needed to learn about each type of building, and to impart a sense of continuity and development of structure, form, and function across Europe and through the different periods of the Middle Ages. The author explores the contextual role of the buildings in their settings and the symbolic impact of both exterior and interior forms, paying particular attention to their experiential qualities. The book is heavily illustrated with photographs, plans, sections, and diagrams. Remarkably thorough in its coverage, Medieval Architecture in Western Europe will not only appeal to the general reader who has little or no prior knowledge of medieval architecture, but will also keep the interest of those who are more knowledgeable about the subject.

Whilst most scholarship in the field concentrates on the very early development of the Romanesque style in Toulouse, Horste's approach brings a fresh perspective to bear on the subject through her new definitions of second and third generation Romanesque sculpture, dating c. 1120-70. Focusing on the sculpture of three decorated cloisters, she discusses current arguments concerning the revival of monumental sculpture in the Romanesque period. She also explores the role of Toulouse as an artistically active medieval city, its part in the monastic reform movement, and its political ties with the French monarchy in the later twelfth century. Horste's own photographs form a major contribution to her book: she has travelled throughout southwestern France photographing Romanesque sculpture in many locations. She also provides a new series of photographs of the Romanesque sculptures in the Musee des Augustins in Toulouse, taken during a major reinstallation of the collections between 1976 and 1981.

During the Middle Ages, artistic ideas were transmitted from one region to another and passed on from one generation to the next, in the form of drawings. This kind of handmade reproduction, 'exemplum' in Latin, was used to record the form and content of works of art. Some of those drawings have survived in 'model books'. The author presents a fascinating account of many and various aspects of these drawings with special emphasis on how they contribute to our understanding of the genesis of medieval works of art. Exemplum will be a standard work of reference for many years to come

Ross provides a broad survey of pictures and texts concerning saints, from the Early Christian through the late Gothic period. Both Western and Byzantine material is included. Beginning with the earliest pictures of and stories about saints, the book traces the evolution of hagiographic imagery primarily in manuscript contexts. Because of its cross-disciplinary nature, it will be of interest to audiences interested in Early Christian, Byzantine, and Western medieval culture: religion, society, politics, and art. No other book to date is organized similarly in providing detailed descriptions for the identification of medieval manuscripts with hagiographic texts and illustrations.

Designed as a quick-reference source to the topics, symbols, themes, and stories most frequently found in early Christian, western medieval, and Byzantine art, this work describes topics that include names and narratives drawn from the Bible and apocrypha, the lives of saints, and numerous other textual sources. Authors whose works were frequently illustrated or who were influential on the visual arts are treated, as are selected art historical terms and events of significance for the arts. Cross-references alert readers to alternate titles and related topics, and the majority of entries cite a pictorial example. These are keyed to standard texts for easy viewing access. The dictionary begins with Aaron and ends with Zoomorphic Decoration.