Touching the Past: The Hand and the Medieval Book | The Getty Museum

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Touching the Past: The Hand and the Medieval Book

July 7–September 27, 2015

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Saint Mark, gospel book, Helmarshausen, about 1120-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Family of Berthold of Andechs; The Marriage of Saint Hedwig and Heinrich (detail), from The Life of the Blessed Hedwig, Silesia,1353. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Seven Last Words of Christ (detail), book of hours, France or England, Master of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Seven Last Words of Christ, book of hours, France or England, Master of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Visitation (detail), book of hours, Paris, Boucicaut Master and workshop, about 1415-20. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Creation of the World (detail), from the Wenceslaus Psalter, Paris, about 1250-60. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Astronomical Vovelle, from Astronomical and Medical Miscellany, English, late fourteenth century, shortly after 1386. The J. Paul Getty Museum
A Man Pledging Homage (detail), from Feudal Customs of Aragon, Northeastern Spain, about 1290-1310. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Scribe Petros and His Pupils, from gospel book, Lake Van region, 1386. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Eadmer of Canterbury Writing, from Life and Conversations of Anselm of Canterbury, probably Tournai, Benedictine Abbey of Saint Martin, about 1140-50. The J. Paul Getty Museum

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Saint Mark, gospel book, Helmarshausen, about 1120-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Family of Berthold of Andechs; The Marriage of Saint Hedwig and Heinrich (detail), from The Life of the Blessed Hedwig, Silesia,1353. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Seven Last Words of Christ (detail), book of hours, France or England, Master of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Seven Last Words of Christ, book of hours, France or England, Master of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Visitation (detail), book of hours, Paris, Boucicaut Master and workshop, about 1415-20. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Creation of the World (detail), from the Wenceslaus Psalter, Paris, about 1250-60. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Astronomical Vovelle, from Astronomical and Medical Miscellany, English, late fourteenth century, shortly after 1386. The J. Paul Getty Museum
A Man Pledging Homage (detail), from Feudal Customs of Aragon, Northeastern Spain, about 1290-1310. The J. Paul Getty Museum
The Scribe Petros and His Pupils, from gospel book, Lake Van region, 1386. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Eadmer of Canterbury Writing, from Life and Conversations of Anselm of Canterbury, probably Tournai, Benedictine Abbey of Saint Martin, about 1140-50. The J. Paul Getty Museum

Touching the Past: The Hand and the Medieval Book

July 7–September 27, 2015, Getty Center

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Illuminated manuscripts are precious historical artifacts; they also preserve some of the finest examples of medieval art. Seen in libraries and museums behind glass, these books have been largely removed from the realm of touch, making it easy to forget that their lavishly illuminated pages were once turned, stroked, stitched, and sometimes even sliced by generations before us. Drawn primarily from the Getty Museum's permanent collection, this exhibit explores manuscripts as tangible, tactile objects that invited touch and were handled—reverently, carelessly, obsessively, and critically—by medieval audiences.

RELATED EVENTS

All events are free, unless otherwise noted. Seating reservations are required. For reservations and information, please call (310) 440-7300 or see information on planning a visit.

TALK

The Once and Future Book: On the Nature of Reading

How has reading changed from the Middle Ages to the latest digital technologies? Did readers of manuscripts have a different relationship to the written word than readers of tablets and iPads? Kathryn Rudy, senior lecturer in art history at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Steve Wasserman, editor-at-large at Yale University Press, discuss the nature of reading—past, present, and future.

Sunday, September 20, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Center: Harold M. Williams Auditorium

TOUR

Curator’s Gallery Tour

Kristen Collins, associate curator of manuscripts, the J. Paul Getty Museum, leads a tour of the exhibition. Meet under the stairs in the Entrance Hall.

Thursday, July 9, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 16, 2:30 p.m.
Getty Center: Museum galleries

Video

Making Manuscripts Video

Making Manuscripts

Learn how illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance were made in this short video.

Structure of a Medieval Manuscript video

The Structure of a Medieval Manuscript

Discover how Medieval manucripts were created and assembled in this short video.

Exhibition Checklist

Download the illustrated exhibition checklist PDF (7 PP, 1.8 MB).

Gallery Text

Read and download the gallery text that accompanies this exhibition in PDF (8 PP, 1 MB).

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