Right now the Painted Page exhibition at the new Folio Society Gallery @ the British Library is showing Images of medieval life in the Luttrell Psalter. You can view the original 13th Century illuminated mansuscript in the John Ritblat Gallery also at the BL.
The exhibition uses a mix of facsimile images of the manuscript + technology to make what is usually considered “for antiquarian interests only” an enjoyable, interactive experience and accessible to the public. There are explanatory notes on what the various icons and imagery might have meant + their social significance: providing insight into the 13th century world and how they may have viewed their reality and their life. Which is what”s interesting about illuminated (i.e. illustrated) manuscripts of course. The metaphorical and allegorical nature of medieval imagery and art is particularly interesting to me. Generally I”m interested in the social aspects of history.
The exhibition is free and runs until 7 January 2007. There is some fantastic technology at work here - the “Turning the pages” interactive feature is loads of fun and hopefully will soon be out of the “innovative” bracket into “usual IT bracket” : hmm let”s see.
** The John Ritblat Gallery showcases the “treasures” of the British Library drawn from the millions of items they have in their collection: there”s a new room dedicated to the Magna Carta.
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Illuminated manuscripts are the most common historical artefacts from the Middle Ages and the best surviving specimens of medieval art. And for some earlier periods of history they often are the only surviving examples of painting.
“An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration or illustration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniatures. In the strictest definition of the term, an illuminated manuscript only refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver. However, in both common usage and modern scholarship, the term is now used to refer to any decorated manuscript.”
You can find out more on this fascinating topic on wikipedia and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek - the National Library of the Netherlands
Love/Death: The Tristan Project
Now showing for free - at two venues: Haunch of Venison Yard and St. Olaf’s College - Tooley St. ( or what used to be the College) [ Adjacent to Tower Bridge Rd, London, SE1 2JR - nearest tube is London Bridge]
The Love/Death: Tristan Project is a twelve piece collaborative project with input from theatre directors and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. The exhibits range from large scale video projections with sound to smaller, silent flat screen panels.
Considered a pioneer in video art, Viola is represented by the James Cohan Gallery in New York, as well as Haunch of Venison in London. His video installations at the SF MoMA ( San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) can be still found as online exhibition features here.
“Viola’s work looks at birth and death, time and human experience. He is said to draw elements of religion into his work and has studied mysticism, Sufism, Kabbalah and Zen Buddhism.â€
Much of the work in this latest show comes from material produced for a recent production of the Wagner opera Tristan and Isolde.
The Haunch of Venison Group are an international art group representing contemporary art, based in Zurich.
The exhibition is running till the 2nd of September
Stefan Lubomirski de Vaux’s blog has photos and comments on his experience.
the main galleries of the dulwich picture gallery are open this sunday for free! as part of the dulwich arts festival from 10 to 5 p.m.
contemporary art: another interesting event that is part of the festival is ‘eco-vandalism‘ in Sydenham Hill Woods ( the wood is located between Dulwich, Sydenham Hill and Forest Hill) - also on Sunday.
” A group of challenging and divergent contemporary artists have been invited to respond to the theme of eco-vandalism”
February@ the Getty Museum:
don”t miss..( it”s free!)
The Mediaeval Bookshelf: From Romance to Astronomy - ( on from January 29th to April 9th 2006)
A collection of illuminated manuscripts and books from the 13th to the 15th centuries on a wide range of subjects - including chivalry, fables, science and philosophy. Bibles and prayer books were not the only books produced in Europe during the Mediaeval period, and this exhibition focuses on the non-religious manuscripts - all beautifully illustrated.
“The late Middle Ages saw a proliferation of illustrated books for the entertainment and instruction of the upper classes. Lavish paintings in the books helped readers visualize the stories.”
Curator”s Gallery Talks - the associate curator of manuscripts will be giving a gallery talk on this exhibition on the 15th March.
More details on this exhibition can be found here..
More details on Mediaeval Manuscripts here at the National Library of the Netherlands
Adolphe-William Bouguereau: Nineteenth Century Art
One of the most popular French artists of the late nineteenth century.Four works are on display at the West Pavilion- including the Young Girl Defending Herself Against Eros.
**Drawings from Leonardo to Titian- Running until Feb 26th
“This exhibition offers highlights from the Getty”s collection of North Italian Renaissance drawings, focusing on the work and influence of Leonardo da Vinci and Titian”
Virtual Uffizi: the complete catalogue of the Uffizi Gallery of Florence.
The “Virtual Uffizi” web site makes available all texts and most of the images, and provides information on the Gallery and on visits, buying tickets online etc. etc. Very useful and another step in the virtual museums/gallery direction.
The Galleria degli Uffizi is one of the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world, and its four centuries of history make it one of the the oldest- it was opened to the public in 1591.
Its collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings, as well as important collection of classical sculpture, includes masterpieces including works by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
The Gallery occupies the top floor of a building which was erected by Giorgio Vasari around 1570 to house the administrative offices of the Tuscan State.Started by Grand-duke Francesco I and added to by various members of the Medici family who were keen collectors as well as patrons of the arts.
A famous Botticelli painting is housed at the Uffizi: The Birth of Venus (c. 1485-86) which was painted for the villa of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de” Medici at Castello.
More on Renaissance Art here : Page on Botticelli
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