The World of the Luttrell Psalter
Distributed for British Library
96 pages
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90 color plates
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6-1/4 x 9-1/4
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© 2006
Depicting scenes of everyday rustic life with vibrant color and earthy wit, the Luttrell Psalter is a unique and vivid document of British culture in the 1320s. Unlike other illuminated manuscripts, the Luttrell Psalter does not focus only on religious imagery, but instead portrays the domestic dramas of the day. Scenes of farming, archaic medical treatments, music and dance, and even marital friction spill over the psalms and cover the margins of this celebrated book.
In The World of the Luttrell Psalter, Michelle Brown unravels the Psalter’s history and sets it firmly within medieval society. A crucial element of the Psalter’s cultural context is its patron, wealthy landowner Sir Geoffrey Luttrell. Brown reveals that knowledge of Luttrell and the book’s audience is as important to understanding the work’s meaning as its striking imagery. Brown’s engaging narrative traces the inspiration and creation of the book, identifying its forebears while elucidating its originality. With lavish illustrations that highlight the inventiveness of the manuscript, The World of the Luttrell Psalter is an appealing guide to a remarkable artifact.
In The World of the Luttrell Psalter, Michelle Brown unravels the Psalter’s history and sets it firmly within medieval society. A crucial element of the Psalter’s cultural context is its patron, wealthy landowner Sir Geoffrey Luttrell. Brown reveals that knowledge of Luttrell and the book’s audience is as important to understanding the work’s meaning as its striking imagery. Brown’s engaging narrative traces the inspiration and creation of the book, identifying its forebears while elucidating its originality. With lavish illustrations that highlight the inventiveness of the manuscript, The World of the Luttrell Psalter is an appealing guide to a remarkable artifact.
"A delightful exploration of a singular manuscript. . . . Brown's examination of its contents reveals issues of historic importance while also giving insight into the personal lives of the Luttrell family and those close to them."—Library Journal
Contents
Introduction
The Luttrell Family and Their Folk
When, Where and Why was the Luttrell Psalter Made?
Depictions of the Luttrells and Their World
Planners, Artists, Scribes
People in the Landscape
Wild Things: the Grotesques
Description of the Manuscript
Further Reading
For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu
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