Mirror of the Medieval World

Wixom, William D., ed., with contributions by Barbara Drake Boehm, Katharine R. Brown, Lisbeth Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Helen C. Evans, Margaret E. Frazer, Carmen Gómez-Moreno, Timothy B. Husband, Daniel Kletke, Charles T. Little, Mary B. Shepard, and William D. Wixom (1999)

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Description

The years 1978 and 1979 were auspicious ones for The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Philippe de Montebello became its Director and William D. Wixom its Chairman of the Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. By then, the Museum's two collections of medieval art jointly encompassed outstanding examples of metalwork, illuminated manuscripts, stained-glass panels, limestone and wood sculptures, textiles, and jewelry (both secular and religious), these items dating from the second century B.C. until well into the sixteenth century. During the ensuing years, under the keen eye and connoisseurship of the chairman and his curatorial staff, and supported enthusiastically by the new administration, the department's holdings grew considerably.

Highlighted in these pages—and in an accompanying exhibition that allows the public to savor many of the works at first hand—are more than 300 purchases and gifts. Although a great majority of the objects have been on view and have figured in various Metropolitan Museum publications over the last two decades, many works have remained unpublished until now. Following a Foreword by the Director, the Introduction by William D. Wixom provides an overview of the enrichment of the collections under his stewardship. The reader then discovers how lacunae were filled, as highly significant examples of the art of the Middle Ages took their place among others with equally impressive provenances.

The catalogue entries, which focus on more than 200 of the most important objects arranged chronologically by type and date, were written by present as well as former curators in the Department of Medieval Art, all recognized as experts in a particular period or field. Large color illustrations of the works, often shown in multiple views, accompany extensive documentation, including provenances, former collection and exhibition histories, notes, and bibliographic references. The book concludes with a Selected Bibliography and an Index. For those unaware of the richness and quality of the medieval treasures available for edification and enjoyment in New York's foremost museum, this volume offers an exciting introduction; for students and scholars of medieval art, it presents the opportunity to take an armchair tour of old favorites encountered on past visits to the Metropolitan's galleries and to become acquainted with the many splendid additions.

Table of contents

Foreword
Philippe de Montebello

Preface
Peter Barnet

List of Donors

Acknowledgments

Contributors to the Catalogue

Twenty Years of Collecting Medieval Art
William D. Wixom

I. Early Europe: 7th century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Catalogue numbers 1–25

II. The First Christian Centuries: 4th–7th century
Catalogue numbers 26–47

III. Europe of the Invasions: 5–11th century
Catalogue numbers 48–66

IV. Europe (Pre-Carolingian through Romanesque): About 800–1200
Catalogue numbers 67–94

V. Later Byzantium: 8th–14th century
Catalogue numbers 95–114

VI. Europe in the 13th Century
Catalogue numbers 115–151

VII. Europe in the 14th Century
Catalogue numbers 152–201

VIII. Europe in the 15th Century: The Early Decades
Catalogue numbers 202–222

IX. Europe in the 15th Century: The Later Decades
Catalogue numbers 223–279

X. Europe in the 16th Century
Catalogue numbers 280–313

Selected Bibliography
Index
Photograph Credits

Press reviews

Library Journal

"... well-constructed ..."

Curator's Choice, NYMuseums.com

"... exquisite, scholarly ..."

The New York Times

"... indispensable ..."

Choice Reviews Online

"The catalog entries are sometimes concise and sometimes very full and detailed, and all the objects are well illustrated. Altogether, a most useful publication."

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