This exhibition showcases examples of the vast array of lavishly illustrated nonreligious manuscripts that were produced in Europe during the Middle Ages. Fables, romances, and how-to books provided entertainment and instruction. Historical manuscripts chronicled the past, and books on science, law, and philosophy served the growing university market.

Entertainment and Instruction

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.

History

People of the Middle Ages sought to understand their world by looking to the past. Most religious books were written in Latin, the language of the Church, but history manuscripts were often written in the vernacular, the language native to a region, such as French or German. Historical figures in contemporary dress frequently enliven the pages of these manuscripts, offering a link between past and present for medieval readers.

This image from Froissart’s Chronicles tells the story of a challenge issued to the king of Hungary by the leader of the Turks. The hens eating the corn in the foreground symbolize the king’s plan to devour the Turkish armies.

Science, Law, and Philosophy

Students flocked to universities in the twelth and thirteenth centuries to study law, medicine, theology, and the liberal arts. This stimulated the market for texts on these subjects. Upper-class patrons also commissioned expensive copies of academic texts.