Medieval Book of Hours: Devotion and Art in Europe
Intimate devotion meets artistic splendor: How Books of Hours became cherished personal prayer guides and masterpieces of medieval illumination.
Intimate devotion meets artistic splendor: How Books of Hours became cherished personal prayer guides and masterpieces of medieval illumination.
Dive into the fascinating world of medieval Books of Hours with this Harvard course. Discover how these beautifully illustrated prayer books became central to private devotion and daily life in Medieval Europe. Explore their structure, content, and significance for various social classes. Learn to analyze these books in the context of medieval European art, recognizing regional variations and their role in the development of Western painting. Gain insights into the history of prayer and the use of images in piety, comparing Books of Hours with works from Harvard's art museums. This course offers a unique window into the religious, cultural, and artistic life of medieval Europe.
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What you'll learn
Analyze Books of Hours in the context of medieval European art and culture
Understand the structure and content of Books of Hours and their role in private devotion
Recognize regional variations in the production and style of Books of Hours
Explore the history of prayer in the Western Middle Ages
Trace the development of Books of Hours within the broader context of European painting
Examine the role of images in medieval prayer and piety
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
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Module Description
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the medieval Book of Hours, a popular prayer book in late medieval Europe. Students will learn about the structure and content of these books, their role in private devotion, and their significance as family chronicles and calendars. The curriculum covers the evolution of Books of Hours from the 13th to the 16th century, examining how they reflect broad patterns of piety and social aspirations across various classes. Participants will gain skills in analyzing these books within the context of medieval European art, recognizing regional variations and their place in the development of Western painting. The course also explores the history of prayer in the Western Middle Ages and the role of images in devotional practices. By studying examples from Harvard's collections and comparing them with works in the Harvard University Art Museums, students will develop a deep understanding of the artistic and cultural significance of Books of Hours.
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Instructor
Distinguished Scholar of Medieval Art and Manuscript Illumination
Jeffrey F. Hamburger, born in 1957, serves as the Kuno Francke Professor of German Art and Culture at Harvard University, where he has taught since 2000. After completing his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Yale University, he held positions at Oberlin College and the University of Toronto before joining Harvard's faculty. His groundbreaking research focuses on medieval religious art, manuscript illumination, and the relationship between art, mysticism, and theology. His major works include "The Rothschild Canticles" (1990), "Nuns as Artists" (1997), and "The Visual and the Visionary" (1998), along with recent publications such as "Color in Cusanus" (2021) and "The Birth of the Author" (2021). His scholarly excellence has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Charles Rufus Morey Prize, the Jacques Barzun Prize, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He was elected to the Medieval Academy of America (2001), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2009), and the American Philosophical Society (2010). His current work includes research on medieval diagrams, female monasticism, and the organization of major exhibitions showcasing medieval manuscripts
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