Book of Beasts - The Bestiary in the Medieval World

by Elizabeth Morrison and Larisa Grollemond

Brimming with lively animals both real and fantastic, the bestiary was one of the great illuminated manuscript traditions of the Middle Ages. Encompassing imaginary creatures, such as the unicorn, siren and griffin; exotic beasts, including the tiger, elephant and ape; as well as animals native to Europe, like the beaver, dog and hedgehog, the bestiary is a vibrant testimony to the medieval understanding of animals and their role in the world. So iconic were the stories and images of the bestiary that its beasts essentially escaped from the pages, appearing in a wide variety of manuscripts and other objects, including tapestries, ivories, metalwork and sculpture.

With over 270 colour illustrations and contributions by twenty-five leading medieval scholars, this gorgeous volume explores the bestiary and its widespread influence on medieval art and culture as well as on modern and contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst.

• ISBN10: 1606065904
• ISBN13: 9781606065907
• Publish Date: 4 June 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Getty Trust Publications
• Imprint: Getty Publications
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 356
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Book of Beasts The Bestiary in the Medieval World is a new catalog guide to accompany an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty museum on medieval bestiaries. Due out 4th June 2019 from Getty Publications, it's 354 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is a lavishly illustrated volume with well written subject essays by well known scholars of medieval art. The exhibition contributor list reads like a who's who of world renowned collections including the Bodleian, the V&A, Bibliothèque nationale de France, The Fitzwilliam, the Royal Danish Library, and many many others.

This volume would make a good addition for students of medieval art, calligraphers, illuminators, artists, art lovers, and students of ecclesiastical Latin and Greek. It is written in a meticulous and scholarly style, but as a layperson I had no problems understanding and learning from the included essays. The majority of the illustrations are western/Latin texts, but there are a few from eastern sources as well.

The exhibition is scheduled to run at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from May 14 to August 18, 2019.

Five stars, this is a sterling exhibition catalog and will have value long after the exhibit is over.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.