The Art of the Book

This is one of three works which are collections of essays focusing primarily on medieval illuminated manuscripts, a number of which are held in Australian and New Zealand collections. Many of the essays are by young Australian scholars; others are by some of the world’s leading authorities on medieval art history. See also: Reading Texts and Images and Medieval Texts and Images.

Reviews

"Throughout, the ample use made of a handful of manuscripts in antipodean collections, enhances the value of this welcome volume." [Richard W. Pfaff, Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 51.1 (2000): 132-3.]

"The University of Exeter Press is to be congratulated on having published such a well-produced book. Not the least of its delights are excellent eight colour and ninety-eight black-and-white plates, which put the poorly-printed and over-priced offerings of older university presses to shame." [Nicholas Rogers, The Ricardian, 12, no. 153 (2001): 293-4.]

"One of the beauties of the book is that it encompasses a variety of approaches to the subject, each illuminated by means of specific examples. Nearly all the authors have viewed the book as integral to the understanding of its function and place within the religious culture of its respective time and place. …Although nearly all of the essays are by art historians, this book will appeal to a much wider audience. Anyone who is concerned with the life  of the educated classes, both secular and religious, of the later Middle Ages will want this anthology." [Mary Weitzel Gibbons, Church History, 69.4 (2000): 887-9.]

"Le volume réunit dix études sur divers aspects de l'illustration du manuscrit religieux. Chacune d'elles, comme l'indique la description bibliographique, est abondamment illustrée. Ce sont en général des abalyses fort pointues de cas particuliers. …Comme on le voit, cet ensemble ne constitue pas une approche globale des relations entre l'illustration et la vie religieuse tant privée que publique. Elle réunit de riches matériaux pour illustrer le sujet." [J.-F.G. Revue d’histoire écclesiastique, 95.2 (2000): 678-9.]