Medieval Manuscripts: Crafting Books and Meaning
From quill to codex: Journey through medieval scriptoria where skilled artisans transformed parchment into illuminated treasures, shaping literacy's path.
From quill to codex: Journey through medieval scriptoria where skilled artisans transformed parchment into illuminated treasures, shaping literacy's path.
Dive into the fascinating world of medieval manuscripts with this Harvard course. Discover how the physical creation of books in the Middle Ages was intimately tied to their meaning and reception. Through examples from Harvard's Houghton Library, learn about the materials, techniques, and craftsmanship involved in producing illuminated manuscripts. Explore how the codex engaged multiple senses, blending text and image in unique ways. Gain insights into the ritual, liturgical, and practical contexts of these books, and understand how their physical properties shaped readers' experiences. This course offers a unique perspective on book history, highlighting what may be lost in the transition to digital texts.
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What you'll learn
Understand the process of creating a medieval manuscript from start to finish
Explore the relationship between the physical form of books and their meaning
Analyze the interplay of materials in manuscript production
Examine the role of illumination in medieval manuscripts
Investigate how readers and listeners experienced books in the Middle Ages
Understand the significance of books in various medieval contexts
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
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Module Description
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of medieval manuscript production and its significance. Students will learn about the entire process of creating a medieval codex, from the preparation of materials to the final decorative elements. The curriculum covers the various shapes, sizes, formats, and materials used in manuscript production, as well as the considerations of craft that influenced the final product. Participants will gain insights into how the physical properties of manuscripts conditioned readers' interactions with the text. The course emphasizes the intimate relationship between making and meaning in medieval book production, exploring how text and image were often inseparable in illuminated manuscripts. By examining a wide range of examples from Harvard's Houghton Library, students will develop a deep understanding of the tactile and visual nature of medieval books and their role in various contexts, including ritual, liturgical, devotional, educational, and practical settings.
Fee Structure
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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