Medieval Rural Life in the Luttrell Psalter

Medieval Life in Manuscripts

by Janet Backhouse

The Luttrell Psalter is one of the best-known English manuscripts. Written and illuminated in the early 14th century for Sir Geoffrey Luttrell, it is celebrated for its series of attractive marginal illustrations showing scenes of life in mediaeval England. The most celebrated sequence of pictures in the manuscript represents the annual cycle of growing crops, including ploughing, sowing, weeding, harvesting, threshing and the delivery of the grain. Animal illustrations include domestic boars, geese, pigs, cattle, ferrets, rabbits, birds, cats and mice. Many scenes depict women playing a full part in rural life. In this study of these illustrations, Janet Backhouse reminds us that although The Luttrell Psalter was designed to provide a reflection of the status of the Luttrell family, its preservation has given a supremely emotive pictorial source for the daily life of rural England.

Genres: History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Janet Backhouse, a respected authority in her field, was a former curator of illuminated manuscripts for The British Library.

Reviews

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text is concise and accurate, if nothing to write home about-- but as with Playboy, you don't read this for the text. The full-color reproductions of the interesting vignettes of rural life from the Psalter are all one could wish for.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this, I thought the only thing that would make this better is to include more of the illuminations. The complete version has now been published -- and is stunning -- but the price will keep all but the most ardent collectors away from it.

This version remains the best bang for the buck.

[Willa Guadalupe Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good up close views of this beautiful psalter with commentary on the life it illustrates.