SECULAR SPIRIT : LIFE AND ART AT THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES

Although history’s extraordinary works of art and architecture are generally preserved, discussed, and revered, the objects of everyday life are, sadly, too often used and then discarded or forgotten. Treated more as artifacts than art, these ordinary objects are rarely singled out for scholarly examination, preservation, or public exhibition. Focusing on the rich variety of things made expressly for daily use in the period from 1300 to 1550, The Secular Spirit: Life and Art at the End of the Middle Ages is an illuminating and exciting exception. Originally assembled as an exhibition at The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Secular Spirit discusses and illustrates over 300 articles, ranging from the most common of everyday equipment to glorious works of art. Chosen for their individual interest in terms of function, significance, and human appeal, these objects reflect the personal attitudes and needs of the people by whom and for whom they were made. The varied images, illustrations and accompanying text vividly depict individual life—not the Church, state, or other institutions usually associated with the era. The book is divided into eight major categories, exploring such topics as the household, personal dress, health, technology, learning, travel, commerce, games, and pastimes. Opening with an essay by an expert in the field, each section goes on to describe, in detail, the nature and character of the particular objects: what they were, how they were used, and how each fits into the larger context. An extensive bibliography is also included for further reference. More than a catalogue or a pictorial history, this volume is a unique compilation of visual and textual material that adds new dimensions to the present understanding of the quality and impact of life and art in the late Middle Ages...