The decorative borders of this leaf (page) from a fifteenth-century early Netherlandish manuscript features various flowers and birds as well as an angel playing a lute. Its illuminator, Lieven van Lathem (ca. 1430-1494), cleverly allowed the capital letter F from the first word in the Latin text to emerge gracefully from the vines of the surrounding foliage. Charles the Bold (1433-1477), the last Duke of Burgundy and van Lathem's patron, is seen kneeling piously with his hands clasped in prayer. Against the backdrop of a Gothic cathedral, an angel gently supports the ruler from behind with its right arm. Images like this one and others from 24 medieval and Renaissance manuscripts are part of The Cult of Saints, a special exhibition at the Getty Center. The show describes Christians' devotion to saints, their religious beliefs and practices, the lore of holy figures and the role of artistic patronage in the production of devotional texts during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
"The Cult of Saints" is on view from April 25 to July 16, 2006 at the Getty Center. The museum is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1681 (Telephone: 310-440-7300; Website). It's open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Admission to the museum is free. Paid parking is based on availability and costs $7.00 per car, cash only.
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From your Guide: Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, is a specialist in ancient, late-medieval and Renaissance art and history, and a regular contributor to About Art History. You may read all of his Special Exhibition and Catalogue Reviews here.
"The Cult of Saints" is on view from April 25 to July 16, 2006 at the Getty Center. The museum is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1681 (Telephone: 310-440-7300; Website). It's open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Admission to the museum is free. Paid parking is based on availability and costs $7.00 per car, cash only.
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From your Guide: Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, is a specialist in ancient, late-medieval and Renaissance art and history, and a regular contributor to About Art History. You may read all of his Special Exhibition and Catalogue Reviews here.