Initial E: The Adoration of the Magi, cutting from a choir book, The Veneto, Franco dei Russi, about 1470s. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Alchandreus Presents His Work to a King, from Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus, Paris, Virgil Master, about 1405. The J. Paul Getty Museum
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Alchandreus Presents His Work to a King (detail), from Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus, Paris, Virgil Master, about 1405. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Saint Christopher, book of hours, England, late 1300s. Collection of Robert McCarthy
Duke Albrecht IV the Wise and His Wife Kunigunde of Austria Adoring the Virgin, from World Chronicle, Regensburg, about 1400-1410, with addition in 1487. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Butterfly, Sweet Cherry, and Land Snails, from Model Book of Calligraphy, Vienna, Joris Hoefnagel, 1561-62 (text) and about 1591-96 (illumination). The J. Paul Getty Museum
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Initial K: Caritas, cutting from a choir book, Seville, Master of the Cypresses, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
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Initial C: St. Nicholas (detail), antiphonal, Bologna, Master of Gerona, late 1200s. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Bishop Engilmar Celebrating Mass, benedictional, Regensburg, about 1030-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Christ in Majesty, sacramentary, Mainz or Fulda, about 1047; binding, Meuse River Valley, about 1150 and later. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Initial E: The Adoration of the Magi, cutting from a choir book, Italy, Franco dei Russi, about 1470s
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Initial E: The Adoration of the Magi, cutting from a choir book, The Veneto, Franco dei Russi, about 1470s. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Alchandreus Presents His Work to a King, from Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus, Paris, Virgil Master, about 1405. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Alchandreus Presents His Work to a King (detail), from Book of the Philosopher Alchandreus, Paris, Virgil Master, about 1405. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Saint Christopher, book of hours, England, late 1300s. Collection of Robert McCarthy
Duke Albrecht IV the Wise and His Wife Kunigunde of Austria Adoring the Virgin, from World Chronicle, Regensburg, about 1400-1410, with addition in 1487. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Butterfly, Sweet Cherry, and Land Snails, from Model Book of Calligraphy, Vienna, Joris Hoefnagel, 1561-62 (text) and about 1591-96 (illumination). The J. Paul Getty Museum
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Initial K: Caritas, cutting from a choir book, Seville, Master of the Cypresses, about 1430-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Initial C: St. Nicholas (detail), antiphonal, Bologna, Master of Gerona, late 1200s. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Bishop Engilmar Celebrating Mass, benedictional, Regensburg, about 1030-40. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Christ in Majesty, sacramentary, Mainz or Fulda, about 1047; binding, Meuse River Valley, about 1150 and later. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
Initial E: The Adoration of the Magi, cutting from a choir book, Italy, Franco dei Russi, about 1470s
Press the play button above to hear about this work.
December 16, 2014–March 15, 2015Getty Center
In the Middle Ages, gift exchange helped people define their relationships to family and friends, to acquaintances and strangers, to God and to church. This exhibition, drawn from the Museum's permanent collection, examines models for giving found in scripture and in the lives of the saints, explores how gift giving functioned in medieval society, and highlights the special role of the medieval book as a gift.
A variety of special programs complement the exhibition. 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.
Christine Sciacca, assistant curator of manuscripts, and Anne Woollett, curator of paintings lead a talk on the exhibitions Give and Ye Shall Receive: Gift Giving in the Middle Ages and Spectacular Rubens: The Triumph of the Eucharist. Meet under the stairs in the Museum Entrance Hall.
Wednesday, December 17, 1:30 p.m.Christine Sciacca, assitant curator of manuscripts, J. Paul Getty Museum, leads a gallery tour of the exhibition Give and Ye Shall Receive: Gift Giving in the Middle Ages. Meet under the stairs in the Museum Entrance Hall.
Wednesday, March 11, 2:30 p.m.Drop by as artist Sylvana Barrett demonstrates the traditional materials and techniques used to create the fine gilded and painted images found in illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages.
Sundays, December 21–January 18, 1:00–3:00 p.m.The Book of Hours was the main prayer book in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and often used as a tool for learning how to read as well as how to pray. Virginia Reinburg, associate professor of history at Boston College, discusses how those fortunate enough to own books of hours often turned them into collections of favorite prayers, images, pilgrim souvenirs, and family lore.
Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.Free GettyGuide® Multimedia Player
Celebrate the history of gift giving with manuscript experts. Pick up a multimedia player free of charge in the Museum Entrance Hall.
Learn how illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance were made in this short video.
Discover how Medieval manucripts were created and assembled in this short video.
Nine manuscripts enthusiasts get a behind-the-scenes preview of the exhibition.
Publications are available in the Getty Museum Store, by calling (310) 440-7333, or online at shop.getty.edu.
Faces of Power and Piety
Erik Inglis
Read and download the gallery text that accompanies this exhibition (6 PP, 855 KB).
Download the illustrated exhibition checklist PDF (4 PP, 1 MB).
