New Medieval Books: The Secret Middle Ages
Art and artefacts from the Middle Ages offer a vivid window into the values, fears, and imaginations of medieval society. This updated edition explores how these objects reflect beliefs and folklore—both devout and delightfully strange.
Renaissance Sculpture Acquired by The Getty
The J. Paul Getty Museum has announced the acquisition of a life-size glazed terracotta sculpture by Andrea della Robbia, one of the foremost sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. The work depicts Saint Anthony the Abbot, a third- and fourth-century Christian hermit famed for his asceticism and role as a model for monastic life.
New Medieval Books: Art, Power, and Resistance in the Middle Ages
The eight papers in this book were guided by the question: In the eyes of their makers and viewers, how were medieval images understood to assert or to resist forces of power?
Donatello’s Medieval Masterpiece Moved for Conservation Work
Donatello’s Gattamelata, the celebrated bronze equestrian statue in Padua, has been carefully removed from its pedestal for conservation. Experts are conducting detailed studies to prepare for the restoration of this fifteenth-century masterpiece.
Medieval Manuscripts in Living Colour
Discover how medieval scribes turned manuscripts into vibrant works of art — from rare pigments and gold leaf to enduring brilliance a millennium later.
Digitizing the Medieval Ducal Tower of Siedlęcin
A 14th-century tower in Siedlęcin holds a secret: the only medieval wall paintings of Lancelot still in their original place. Now, researchers are using digital tools to reveal its hidden details.
Medieval Goddesses of the Moon: Chang’e and Diana
Explore how medieval writers and artists depicted the moon goddesses Chang’e and Diana, revealing their beauty, power, loneliness, and lasting influence in literature, art, and legend.
Lost Medieval Painting Rediscovered at Hexham Abbey
Hexham Abbey in northern England has unveiled a lost medieval painting, thought to be part of the Dance of Death, using advanced imaging technology.
Medieval Scholar Called Out the Shroud of Turin as a Fake, Study Finds
A new study reveals that Nicole Oresme, one of the great minds of fourteenth-century France, denounced the Shroud of Turin as a fake decades before its famous 1389 controversy. His writings highlight both medieval skepticism and clerical deception.
Faith Tibble and the Crown of Thorns: Rethinking a Medieval Icon
Faith Tibble’s new book, The Crown of Thorns: Humble Gods and Humiliated Kings, challenges centuries of assumptions about one of Christianity’s most iconic symbols. Drawing on meticulous research and a storyteller’s touch, she invites readers to look again at the medieval art they thought they knew.
New Medieval Books: Images of Thomas Becket in the Middle Ages and Beyond
When Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, he was instantly transformed into one of the most prominent figures in medieval Christianity. His image spread widely across Europe, appearing in manuscripts, sculptures, stained glass windows, and other forms of material culture. This book brings together 11 essays that explore how Becket was represented, remembered, and venerated through these visual and physical media.
Marked by Faith: Tattoos and the Christian Body in the Middle Ages
Tattoos in the Middle Ages? While often associated with criminals or pagans, these marks on the skin could also signal Christian devotion, sacred journeys, and personal identity in unexpected ways.
The Hours of Jean de Montauban: Apocrypha and Devotion in a Medieval Manuscript
Discover how a 15th-century Book of Hours uses vivid imagery from the Vita Adae et Evae to explore apocryphal stories of Adam and Eve, spiritual struggle, and medieval views on sin and redemption.
Renaissance Fresco Restored in Italy
A rarely seen Renaissance fresco by Beato Angelico has been restored at the Convent of San Domenico in Fiesole, near Florence. The Crucifixion scene reveals new insights into the artist’s early work.
15th-century Florentine Masterpiece to be Restored
Piero del Pollaiolo’s ‘Saint Michael the Archangel Defeating the Dragon’ will undergo conservation at the Bardini Museum
National Gallery Acquires Mysterious Northern Renaissance Masterpiece
The National Gallery has acquired a mysterious and richly detailed Northern Renaissance altarpiece from around 1510. Featuring saints, angels, dragons, and eccentric iconography, the anonymous masterpiece has not been seen publicly since 1960.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Crown of Thorns
Discover five surprising facts about the Crown of Thorns, from its origins as a leafy wreath to its role in medieval kingship and Christian art.
Lost for Decades, a Medieval Madonna and Child Returns in Stunning Restoration
A 15th-century stucco Madonna and Child, hidden for over 70 years, has undergone a dramatic restoration in Florence. Once discoloured and forgotten, the sculpture now reveals its original colours and exquisite detail.
Tudor Wall Paintings Uncovered in Northern England Lodge
Rare 16th-century wall paintings have been uncovered at The Ashes, a former Tudor hunting lodge located in what was once Inglewood Forest, near…
Digital Technology Helps Solve a 12th-Century Mystery: Which of Barisanus of Trani’s Bronze Doors Came First?
A team of researchers has used cutting-edge scientific tools to help solve a long-standing mystery in medieval art history: the chronological order of the monumental bronze doors created by the 12th-century artisan Barisanus of Trani.
The Angel of Le Lude: The Middle Ages’ Largest Bronze Statue
The Angel of Le Lude is a remarkable sculpture bridging the gap between medieval artistry and early Renaissance innovation. Created in 1475 by Jean Barbet, a master bronze founder from Lyon, this monumental work stands at 110 cm tall and is the largest known bronze statue of the Middle Ages.
Laughing at Evil: The Hidden Purpose of Gargoyles
Gargoyles aren’t just eerie stone figures—they were medieval weapons against evil, using fear, satire, and mockery to protect both buildings and beliefs.
Hidden in Plain Sight: A Medieval Fresco Shows Islamic Tents Used in Christian Churches
A forgotten fresco in an Italian church has revealed a surprising medieval practice—Islamic tents were used to cover Christian altars. The 13th-century fresco, recently rediscovered in Ferrara, Italy, is believed to be the only known depiction of this tradition, shedding new light on the connections between Christian and Islamic artistic influences in medieval Europe.
Why Is Saint Maurice Depicted as African? Seven Medieval Theories
Why does a 13th-century German statue depict Saint Maurice with African features? This article explores seven medieval theories, from linguistic associations to imperial propaganda, that shaped his striking portrayal in medieval art.
