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Mirror in Parchment : Luttrell Psalter and the Making of Medieval England
Picturing history. Physical 413 p. Includes bibliographical references and index. Luttrell, Geoffrey Sir -1345 - Art patronage. British Museum. Bible. Psalms ; Illustrations.
- GenresHistoryArtArt History
324 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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February 26, 2016
I probably wouldn't have read this book if the Psalter wasn't commissioned by my ancestors... But I've always wondered what exactly the Luttrell Psalter was about. I definitely learned some interesting things about the Luttrells of yore that may explain why I'm so obsessed with books, fashion, and the Wars of the Roses (go Lancastrians!!).
Overall, this was an extremely informative book if you want to understand what medieval life was like for both the nobility and the peasantry. Camille goes into great detail about the symbolism behind the artwork and how each illumination is a representation of spiritual or societal beliefs. He also talks about certain historical events that likely helped shape the artists' representation of non-English communities within the Psalter.
What I disliked most was that this was an excruciatingly boring read. Sometimes I find history books that read more like adventure novels which can be really exciting, but this was at the opposite end of the spectrum and basically sounded like a college term paper that went off on highly specific tangents too many times. I think if you're terribly interested in the Luttrell Psalter, this is a great book to read, but if you only have a passing curiosity, there are likely better introductory books out there.
Overall, this was an extremely informative book if you want to understand what medieval life was like for both the nobility and the peasantry. Camille goes into great detail about the symbolism behind the artwork and how each illumination is a representation of spiritual or societal beliefs. He also talks about certain historical events that likely helped shape the artists' representation of non-English communities within the Psalter.
What I disliked most was that this was an excruciatingly boring read. Sometimes I find history books that read more like adventure novels which can be really exciting, but this was at the opposite end of the spectrum and basically sounded like a college term paper that went off on highly specific tangents too many times. I think if you're terribly interested in the Luttrell Psalter, this is a great book to read, but if you only have a passing curiosity, there are likely better introductory books out there.
Displaying 1 of 1 review