The Manuscript Files: A Demon Whispering Sweet Nothings
One of my favorite details from the current exhibition Gothic Grandeur comes from a French psalter of the early 1200s. A hallmark of Gothic... Read More
Middle Ages
The Manuscript Files: A Medieval Holiday Message
On the opening page of the Abbey Bible, the first image we encounter is this roundel containing a scene of the Nativity of Christ.... Read More
The Manuscript Files: A Medieval Marilyn?
The luxuriant locks sported by this medieval figure might seem to say more “Marilyn Monroe” than “Saint John.” Both he and the movie star... Read More
Time for a Manuscript Close-Up! Welcoming the Abbey Bible to the Museum
The 13th-century illuminated manuscript known as the Abbey Bible recently joined the collection of the Getty Museum—and when the special book arrived, the task... Read More
See the Book That Was Kept in Storage for 800 Years
One of the most exciting aspects of curatorial work is the privilege of bringing you great works of art that were rarely seen before... Read More
Far from Marginal: Images in the Margins of the Abbey Bible
We use the word “marginal” to dismiss something as unimportant or trivial. But images in the margins of medieval books are so important they... Read More
Have You Seen an Illuminated Manuscript Lately?
The Getty Center is one of few places in the United States where you can see medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts year-round. With three or... Read More
Tights, A Medieval Fashion Faux Pas, Return!
Tights are not pants--or are they?
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Fashion According to the Pope: Short Tunics for Him and Fabulous Jewelry for Her
The current exhibition Fashion in the Middles Ages, closing Sunday, August 14, examines costumes in the pages of medieval manuscripts. At times, the clothing... Read More
The Medieval Clotheshorse: Roger Wieck on the Fashion Revolution of the Middle Ages
Fancy medieval clothes, in manuscripts and real life.
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Did Parchment Smell? Your Manuscript Questions, Answered
Answers to your questions about illuminated manuscripts.
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A Lasting War: Representing Troy in Ancient Greece and Medieval Europe
For ancient Greeks and medieval Europeans, the Trojan past lived in the present.
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