Art of the Middle Ages

World of Art

by Janetta Rebold Benton

A comprehensive and authoritative study of medieval visual arts in Europe, forming the ideal guide for students to all facets of art and architecture in the Middle Ages. Topics covered include tapestries, armour, stained glass, enamel and ivory work, and illuminated manuscripts.

Genres: Art, Art History, Nonfiction, History, Medieval

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Matthew Devereux ∞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this out of Woking (the Shanghai of Surrey) library to augment my poor art history knowledge and learn more about the period of history where the church had a monopoly on art and architecture and so on and I ploughed through to page 200 before giving up because it was so monotonous. There are only so many trefoils and narthexes and basilicas and cruciforms and liturgical east ends (which I don't think the cast of the BBC soap opera Eastenders live in) and radiating chapels and transepts and quires and ambulatories that a man can stomach at one sitting without reaching for an overdose of Negroni Spritz. There is nothing wrong with the church's monopoly so much but I suppose I am interested in the Reformation and the translation of the Bible into the vernacular and the Aesopian tortoise slow process of people thinking for themselves about religion and art and gradually getting on with making disparate and multiplicitous artwork instead. I have been lured in by a book on the Arts and Crafts movement instead and no offence to Janetta Rebold Benton, her analysis is excellent and forensic but it all got a bit too much for me. It was like being stuck in a solarium with a Trappist monk and no television for 57,000 years - no offence to the monk but a bit on the dull side of the equation. By the way here's my Nobel Prize non-winning blog which I mention in every review because I am a monomaniac: http://devereuxmatthew.wordpress.com

[Jonathan Hunter]

Couldn’t really get into this outside of an academic context. It very much is intended to be used as a textbook, and for that purpose I think it’s entirely fine, but without supplemental lectures to accompany it this just came across as dry and uninteresting. Glad to own it and have on my shelf because it makes me look more learned (and I got it for like 5$) but I have no real intention of ever finishing this.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Although in many ways harsh and insecure, medieval life placed high value on the visual beauty and appeal of one's environment."

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book suites my Common Reader point of view. The framework it sets up is a good start for visiting the Gothic Cathedrals across Europe.

[Mary Ruth]

Reviewing, from the library

[Anna Gómez Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an art historian, the book is a brief summary of the ehole period, very recommended for those wanting to get in touch with the topic

[Amy W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great and a handy companion to the evening course I’m taking in Gothic Art/Architecture. The book was packed full of examples and pictures of what the text was talking about (some were black and white e.g. the cathedral interiors, but most of the more detailed ones of e.g. jewelled reliquaries were in colour).

There are chapters separating out topics, but within the chapters the text didn’t dwell too long on any particular element, it skipped along nicely from one example to the next.

The style of the writing was also good: it wasn’t dry or difficult to understand. It was easy to follow, but without feeling dumbed down. If others in this World of Art series are the same, I may well seek them out as I found this both interesting and accessible.

[René Venegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great simple and easy to read, lovely and informative a great tool for an introduction to art of the middle ages

[Steve Clark]

Paperback