The Experience of Beauty in the Middle Ages (Oxford-Warburg Studies)

This book articulates a new approach to medieval aesthetic values, emphasizing the sensory and emotional basis of all medieval arts, their love of play and fine craftsmanship, of puzzles, and of strong contrasts. Written for a general educated audience as well as students and scholars in the field, it offers an understanding of medieval literature and art that is rooted in the perceptions and feelings of ordinary life, made up of play and laughter as well as serious work. Medieval stylistic values of variety, sweetness, good taste, and ordinary beauty are grounded in classical and medieval biological theories of change and flux in the human body, not only in symbolism and theology. The book will appeal to all lovers of medieval arts, literature, architecture, music, and painting, as well as serious students of religion and the language of beauty. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Contents 10 List of Plates 11 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction: Making Sense 14 1. Artful Play 29 2. Sensory Complexion and Style 58 3. Taking the Bitter with the Sweet 93 4. Taste and Good Taste 121 5. Varietas 148 6. Ordinary Beauty 178 Bibliography 219 General Index 240 A 240 B 240 C 240 D 241 E 241 F 241 G 241 H 241 I 241 J 241 K 241 L 241 M 242 N 242 O 242 P 242 Q 242 R 242 S 242 T 242 U 242 V 242 W 242 Y 243 Z 243 Index of Words 244 E 244 F 244 G 244 H 244 L 244 M 245 N 246 O 246 P 246 R 246 S 246 T 246 U 246 V 246 This Book Articulates A New Approach To Medieval Aesthetic Values, Emphasizing The Sensory And Emotional Basis Of All Medieval Arts, Their Love Of Play And Fine Craftsmanship, Of Puzzles, And Of Strong Contrasts. Written For A General Educated Audience As Well As Students And Scholars In The Field, It Offers An Understanding Of Medieval Literature And Art That Is Rooted In The Perceptions And Feelings Of Ordinary Life, Made Up Of Play And Laughter As Well As Serious Work. Medieval Stylistic Values Of Variety, Sweetness, Good Taste, And Ordinary Beauty Are Grounded In Classical And Medieval Biological Theories Of Change And Flux In The Human Body, Not Only In Symbolism And Theology.-- Introduction : Making Sense -- Artful Play -- Sensory Complexion And Style -- Taking The Bitter With The Sweet -- Taste And Good Taste -- Varietas -- Ordinary Beauty. Mary Carruthers. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [206]-226) And Indexes. "This book articulates a new approach to medieval aesthetic values, emphasizing the sensory and emotional basis of all medieval arts, their love of play and fine craftsmanship, of puzzles, and of strong contrasts. Written for a general educated audience as well as students and scholars in the field, it offers an understanding of medieval literature and art that is rooted in the perceptions and feelings of ordinary life, made up of play and laughter as well as serious work. Medieval stylistic values of variety, sweetness, good taste, and ordinary beauty are grounded in classical and medieval biological theories of change and flux in the human body, not only in symbolism and theology."-- From publisher's description