The Ruler Portraits of Anglo-Saxon England

by Catherine E. Karkov

Overview

Analysis of a group of images of kingship and queenship from Anglo-Saxon England explores the implications of their focus on books, authorship and learning.

Between the reign of Alfred in the late ninth century and the arrival of the Normans in 1066, a unique set of images of kingship and queenship was developed in Anglo-Saxon England, images of leadership that centred on books, authorship and learning rather than thrones, sword and sceptres. Focusing on the cultural and historical contexts in which these images were produced, this book explores the reasons for their development, and their meaning and functionwithin both England and early medieval Europe. It explains how and why they differ from their Byzantine and Continental counterparts, and what they reveal about Anglo-Saxon attitudes towards history and gender, as well as the qualities that were thought to constitute a good ruler. It is argued that this series of portraits, never before studied as a corpus, creates a visual genealogy equivalent to the textual genealogies and regnal lists that are so mucha feature of late Anglo-Saxon culture. As such they are an important part of the way in which the kings and queens of early medieval England created both their history and their kingdom.

CATHERINE E. KARKOV is Professorof Art History at the University of Leeds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843830597
Publisher:	BOYDELL & BREWER INC
Publication date:	07/15/2004
Series:	ISSN , #3
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

CATHERINE E. KARKOV is Professor Emeritus of Art History, University of Leeds.

Editorial Reviews

Displays enormous scholarship and range.

TOEBI Newsletter

An extremely rich and rounded piece of research which refuses to take any of its source material lightly.

THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW

An extremely rich and rounded piece of research which refuses to take any of its source material lightly. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW

Displays enormous scholarship and range. TOEBI Newsletter

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